Psalm 30:5
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
This verse is a powerful reminder that when we are facing loss, pain and grief it will not go on forever. Our hope and faith is that there is always a new day beyond any nights of weeping. While it might not always bring with it joy and rejoicing it is a new day. New possibilities await.
I am reminded of the story behind the writing of the anthem that turned into the beloved hymn, “Hymn of Promise.” Natalie Sleeth was a gifted composer of choral anthems. After a dear friend died she was reading from T.S. Eliot when she came to the line, “in our end is our beginning.”
Those words, which begin the third verse of the hymn, summed up for Sleeth all the feelings of loss she was feeling at her friend’s death but also the hope she felt because of her faith. She soon wrote the words and music, first as an anthem, but soon turning it into a hymn. Its words carry the promise of spring and the hope of Easter in its beautiful metaphors. Shortly after its composition, Natalie’s husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The Rev. Ronald Sleeth, a seminary professor, requested that "Hymn of Promise" be sung at his funeral service. From that time it has often been used at memorial services to acknowledge our tears of loss while celebrating that God is still at work in our lives and creating new possibilities.
I have observed many times unexpected, joy filled moments, after times of loss. I am sure you have too. Examples I can think of are of people finding new life giving relationships after loved ones have died. New jobs that were more enjoyable and meaningful than the one that ended. People striving to find new purpose after an awful life moment, becoming advocates for change so others will not have to experience what they went through. I am sure you can think of others.
This verse from the Psalms acknowledges the hard truth that with living comes times of tears. When those sad moments occur we need to acknowledge the feelings we are experiencing. They will likely stay with us for awhile. These are what another calls the dark nights of the soul.
But we are not going through this alone. God is with us in these tear filled times. But in those tears remember God is at work creating something new.
As the hymn reminds us, “From the past will come the future, what it holds a mystery, ..something only God can see.”
So when there are times of tears, have hope. Find comfort it knowing that this hard time will eventually pass. God is at work at something new for you. What it is may surprise you and it might even replace the sorrow with joy. The future is a mystery to us but we can trust in God’s love that it will be just what we need.
Let us pray.
Loving God. We know the hard tear filled times will come again in our lives just as they have in the past. We find comfort in knowing you are with us and that this time will not last forever. Even more we celebrate
how you are at work at creating new joy filled moments for us in the days to come. AMEN.
This podcast was written and read by Bill Green.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].
First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
