Take a few moments and read Psalm 30. This Psalm celebrates deliverance from death. In verse 3 David declared—“You have brought up my soul from Sheol.” The term is used for pulling a bucket up from a deep well. In this case, David saw the well as deep as death itself. Verse 2 suggests that the threat to David’s life was an illness from which God had healed him.
His response to God’s merciful healing was to sing praise to the Lord and to “give thanks to His holy name” (4). His gratitude is based on the character of God. “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor if for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (5). God’s anger is always a righteous anger which is poured out on sin. David gives thanks that God allows His anger to burn for only a moment but gives us His favor for a lifetime. He states the same truth in a slightly different manner in the declaration—“Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.”
The concept of sorrow being turned into joy is carried even further in the New Testament. Paul writes: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17). If you glance at the context, you will discover that Paul is talking about the physical decay of the outer man. The aging process brings with it physical challenges that can often cause us to lose heart.
What are we to do when we experience affliction? Remember is it momentary. Praise and thank God that His favor lasts a lifetime and beyond. Take time today to thank God for allowing you to take the “long view.”
Prayer: Father, I thank you that joy comes in the morning. Help me to live with eternity in view. Amen.