“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.” — Psalm 30:11-12
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Reggie walked with his family to the graveside on a cold and rainy morning in January. The minister spoke comforting words and told a few heartwarming and humorous memories of Bernice. As the funeral directors lowered her body, it seemed to Reggie like half of him was buried underground as well. He still had a home and children who loved him, but he didn’t know whether he would keep on living. He went back to work several days later at the plant, but he struggled to concentrate and felt like a dead man walking. But he kept on working, and his boss and coworkers helped him in every way they could.
In the midst of his incredible grief, God strengthened him. But after 30 days, people stopped calling and reality slapped him in the face — Bernice wasn’t coming back home. But he knew God was still real, even when he lay awake for half the night and didn’t know where he fit in anymore.
Then, Reggie started reading the Bible every day and saw that God brought lots of people from despair to victory, but they had to pray and wait for months or years. In the Psalms, Reggie saw how David and other writers were lifted up by God’s power.
In the Bible, God rescued His people from danger and sorrow. Today, the Lord steps into our weeping room and gives us enough hope to get up for another sunrise. As time passes, we may or may not see a storybook ending, but God renews us on the inside. Then as we join the host of believers who praise God for His deliverance, we we will see better days either in this life or the life to come. “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever” (Psalm 30:11-12).
As we have pollen and flowers, bees and honey, thorns and blackberries, our lives are a mixture of every kind of experience. Therefore, it is important to rely on the unchanging God when we are shaken by changes in our lives. Surely, Jesus is the steady rock to keep us stable. “As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?” (Psalm 18:30-31).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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