A Spectacle Of Glory #41

Read: Isaiah 53:4

The apostle Paul knew how to be joyful. This is the man who wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” But he also confessed to “great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart” over the spiritual lostness of his Jewish race. He described Christ’s apostles as “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”^a James advised us to “grieve, mourn and wail” when we sin and break fellowship with Jesus.^b

The fact is, sorrow, tears, and disappointment are written into God’s plan for us. Yes, He lightens and brightens our days with glimpses of paradise; He gives foretastes of the great joys to come through a thousand blessings, large and small. But we’re not in heaven yet. And here on this side of life, we—along with everyone else—will experience a measure of sorrow. When those sad times come, however, we turn our gaze to Jesus—remembering that He carried our sorrows on the cross and will certainly walk with us through all of our troubles.

When I grieve, dear God, thank You for supporting me with Your presence. Let my tears help me to know You better and drive me into Your comforting arms. With the psalmist, I declare, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”^c