Read: Psalm 30
Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (v. 5 NIV)
It usually isn’t good for me to wake up in the middle of the night. I don’t know about you, but when I find myself staring at the ceiling wishing I was still deep in slumber, it’s not just sleep that is elusive, it’s peace. Concerns intensify, what-ifs magnify, and the darkness wraps me in uncertainty. And at times the tears flow.
What’s comforting in the hard moments of night is the knowledge that the darkness does not last. Morning inevitably comes, the sun rises, and the newness of day brings with it clarity and renewal. The shadows of darkness are no longer, as light penetrates our surroundings and provides a brighter perspective.
So what do we do before morning dawns, whether on a given night or during a trying season? Remember that the Light of the World has overcome every form of darkness, and you can know joy in him again. God’s promises light our way. His Word tells us he is the provider of the “light of life” (John 8:12). “For you are my lamp, O LORD; and the LORD illumines my darkness” (2 Sam. 22:29 NASB). Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”
The next time you feel like you are shrouded in darkness, whether at night or in the middle of the brightest day, run toward the Light! —Joy Petroelje
As you pray, ask God to help you remember that darkness does not last, but joy in him is eternal.
About the Author
Joy Petroelje is the director of a nonprofit human services organization. She and her husband Steve have three sons and live near Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition to family time and her work in nonprofit administration, Joy enjoys reading, writing, and running.
