Morning By Morning #134

Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Dear Christian, if you are enduring a night of trials, think of tomorrow! Let your heart be cheered by the thought of your coming Lord. Be patient, for:

Lo! He comes with clouds descending.

John Cennick, 1718-1755

Be patient! The heavenly Harvester waits to reap His harvest. Be patient, for you know who said, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Rev. 22:12). If you have never been as distressed as today, remember:

A few more rolling suns, at most,

Will land you on fair Canaan’s coast.

John André, 1750–1780

Your head may be crowned with thorny troubles right now, but someday soon it will wear a starry crown. Your hands may be filled with many cares today, but will soon strum the strings of heaven’s harp. Now your garments may be stained with dust and dirt, but soon they will be white. Wait a little longer.

Yes, how contemptible our troubles and trials seem today! Now they appear overwhelming, but once we get to heaven we will:

With transporting joys recount,

The labors of our feet.

Isaac Watts, 1674–1748

Then our trials will seem as “light and momentary troubles” (2 Cor. 4:17).

May we boldly continue, and even if the night has never seemed so dark, the morning comes! This is more than anyone who is imprisoned in the darkness of hell can say.

Do you know what it means to live looking to the future with expectancy—to anticipate heaven? Happy is the believer who has such assurance and such a comforting hope. There may be nothing but darkness now, but soon there will be light; there may be nothing but trials now, but soon there will be nothing but happiness.

What difference does it make that “weeping may remain for a night” when “rejoicing comes in the morning”!

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Today Spurgeon quotes hymns by John Cennick, John André, and Isaac Watts, reminding us how hymns once greatly influenced people’s theology. Watts wrote 750 hymns that had a greater influence than those of John Newton (“Amazing Grace”) or John and Charles Wesley. Cennick, an evangelist who died at thirty-six, established more than forty churches. And André, a British military officer hanged at the age of thirty as a spy, wrote “My Hiding Place” (excerpted above) just two days before his execution. It was found in his pocket after he was hanged.

Once we consider the trials of others, perhaps our complaining will end.