Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Richard Cecil
Weeping to Joy
God says that “his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Read that again! God may discipline us as a father does, but it’s because He loves us. The righteous indignation He holds is only “for a moment” but amazingly, “his favor is for a lifetime” and for those who have trusted in Christ, it lasts forever! No sorrow can match the joy that is coming.
Present Suffering and the Coming Glory
The Apostle Paul wrote, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:18). If you had a set of scales and weighed the things of this present evil world, including the sorrow we experience today, it doesn’t even show up on the scales compared to “the glory that is to be revealed to us” someday (Rev 21:3; 22:4). It is “apples and oranges” in comparison.
Fermenting the Sorrow
When wine is fermenting, it takes a long time, so look at today’s troubles as sorrow fermenting into the joy that is coming. While we’re yet in this world, we’ll have trouble, just as Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Use the sufferings of this present age to be a contrast with the joy that’s coming. See the background of today as black velvet that will more vividly display the beauty of the diamond that’s coming. The world’s full of tribulations, but Jesus gives us peace and this peace will remain.
Conclusion
Richard Cecil, in saying “In the midst of sorrow, faith draws the sting out of every trouble,” is basically saying that someday our weeping will turn to joy; our present suffering in this life can’t compare with the glory that’s going to be revealed to us someday, so use that sorrow to compare the joy that’s coming, and it’s a joy that’s off the charts.
