3-12 North Point

The Precursors to Joy

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:

weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

-- Psalms 30:5

The Bible teaches us many things that fly in the face of conventional wisdom. The Lord Jesus told the disciples that if they wanted to be great or chief, one must be a servant (Matthew 20:26-27); that the way to glory was through suffering (1 Peter 1:11); that the way t0 be rich was to give (Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 8:9).

Another area this is true concerns joy. Our idealistic plan would be to have a continual smooth path, with no bumps in the road, which builds and builds until the joy and happiness were overwhelming! However, the path to true joy is through suffering and sorrow.

If you are going through a trial today, think of this verse. The great expositor and preacher John Knox said of this verse: “sorrow is but a guest of a night.” Yes, there can be – and will be – the dark nights in our lives. But be of good cheer! There is daybreak to come! Trials and sorrows are the precursors to joy. The Thessalonian Christians found this out, “having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” (1 Thes. 1:6). Tribulations and sorrows are fleeting, meaning they come and go. God’s favour, His love and His joy are forever!

· Think back to the trials you’ve encountered as a Christian. As bleak as things may have looked for the moment, praise God for what He has done in bringing you through them.

· Remember that the trial you are facing today is only for a moment, for a night, but God’s joy is forever.