". . . weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5b
Not so long ago I was invited to a family reunion.
This particular gathering took place at the house of a couple who recently had a baby. You could tell this baby was their first. For a few hours they gladly, gleefully showed their child off to anyone who would hold her.
Then their little one started to get fussy.
Reluctantly, around 1 p.m., mom and dad put their little girl down for a nap. At 2:30 p.m. they still hadn't heard a peep from their child. It was then -- with no little concern in her voice -- the young mother instructed her husband: "You better get up and see why the baby's not crying."
With so much pain and hurt in this world, I am often amazed that everybody isn't crying all the time. With all of life's pain and problems, sins and sadness, there are plenty of reasons to cry.
Amazingly, I've heard more and more preachers -- especially those on TV -- say that if you are a Christian, your problems will completely disappear.
That's a doctrine that just isn't found in the Bible. Indeed, we note Paul continued to carry his thorn in the flesh, and Jesus drained the cup of suffering which won our salvation.
On the other hand, Scripture does tell us the Lord will help us carry our problems, and He will never let us be in a situation from which there is no hope or help.
Jesus will bring us through our pains and our problems. The Savior will wipe away all our tears. That is something we can count on, and it's one of the best reasons God's joy replaces our sorrow.
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we live in such a broken world. But I praise You for the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Through Jesus we are comforted and assured the victory is ours and not the world's. Jesus' light will dispel our darkness, and we shall be more than conquerors. In His Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 28-29 Luke 7:31-50
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