Joy Comes in the Morning!

(Note: The hi-lited passages are links to the appropriate sites or Scriptures)

When I first moved back to my hometown with my children in tow and my life in pieces, God thankfully gave me the wisdom to immediately seek out Godly women who could help me along in my journey and guide me with love and with Truth. If you are going through a divorce or some other soul-ripping event, I encourage you to pray that God will show you your own "circle of friends" to rally around you. You will be amazed at who this circle ends up being. I lost some friendships with friends who informed me that they "knew the whole story" (though FP is still lying to them to this day about the extent of his adultery) and "just couldn't believe [I] could 'give up' so easily on him". These sorts of "friends" are not the friendships you need. Give up the desire to "explain yourself" to these people as they will not hear you and it is so not worth it (Deut 32:35, Prov 18:2). Also, guard your tongue even around those you trust, as sometimes "venting" to others only feeds your anger even more (Prov 29:11).
The true friends, like the women God brought to me and who I leaned on, who held me up, were those who approached me and said, "I don't need to know a thing about "the story". I know you, I know your character, I love you and I'm here for you." These women already knew the real me and knew I would never in 1000 years "give up" on my marriage. They knew my walk and my faith and knew that there was no "story" that needed explaining or telling. These Godly women, sent by my Father to comfort me, walked me along in my journey (Is 49:13). First, they actually carried me down my road as I could not walk on my own. Then, they walked beside me and I leaned on them like a crutch. Then, they simply walked beside me -side by side- in case I needed them. Now, they are still with me on my journey but they are not on the road with me - they are on the sidelines and ahead of me, cheering me on from all sides. I no longer need to be carried and I no longer need a "crutch" - Praise God. I finally KNOW that I am strong enough to walk my road alone (with the Lord), with my friends walking their roads next to me. One day, if one of them needs to be carried for a while, I will be strong enough to hop on their road with them and carry them for a distance until they know that they are strong again. God is amazing how he uses each of us to hold each other up at different times. He will not put a yoke on us that we cannot carry - and sometimes we just need others to bear it with us! (Matt 11:28-30, Colossians 3:12-14)
One night, shortly after the separation, a group of us were all praying together and the women formed a circle around me. AR put her hands on my head, turned my face toward her and looked straight into my eyes and said, with authority, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy WILL come in the morning" (Psalm 30). This verse became my "mantra" in those first few months. I just stood on this word and spoke it into my life. Every time I cried or felt like crying, I would speak it out loud "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy WILL come in the morning." Yes, I got frustrated at times when joy did not come right away - it honestly took about 2 years before true JOY came and flooded my heart again. At the beginning, I cried every day for the longest time. Then I realized I cried every other day. Then every 3 days, then once a week, then once a month. Soon I realized it had been 6 months since I had last cried about the destruction of my family. Then, one day, it was just gone and I had JOY in the morning!!! Now, the sadness is a distant memory. I encourage you to speak this Word (Psalm 30:5)into YOUR life - it is God's Word for YOU - He is your Abba, Daddy, and He wants this blessing for you - you are His precious child! What Godly Daddy on earth would want his child to suffer and live in depression? (Rom 8:15, Gal 4:4-7, Matt 7:9-11) So, then, How much moreso does your Perfect Father in Heaven want to bless you, want you to find joy in this life He has blessed you with, no matter what is going on outside of you (Heb 11:6, Ps 35:27)? He can restore your joy and He will (Psalm 30:11-12). There will be times you will say "WHEN IS MORNING LORD??? I AM READY!" But hold on; I promise it is coming. And when it does come, your faith will be stronger, bolder, and richer for the waiting (Rom 5:2-4). Trust in Him.
Very shortly before I found my joy again, I was in an art gallery in town and there was a painting that I was so drawn to. It was beautiful to me and my eyes would always wander to it. I was in this gallery 4-5 times in a month because I was having some of my own artwork framed and constantly I was drawn to this painting. Finally I decided to suck it up and see how much the painting cost. As I got up close to read the tiny price tag, I saw, in small print at the top corner of the painting - "my" verse!!! Right there, it read "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning." I almost cried right then and there in the gallery! It was "my" painting! A gift from my Abba (James 1:17)! I bought the painting that day and it hangs in my bedroom, right next to my bed. It is my reminder of my Father who loves me, who restores me, and who will always bring me back to His amazing JOY in the morning (Ps 23:3, 52:8).
Psalm 16:11You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 30:11You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy
Psalm 68:3But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful
Psalm 71:23My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed.
Psalm 86:4Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
Psalm 94:19When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
Psalm 105:43He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy
Psalm 118:15Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
Psalm 126:3The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy
Psalm 126:5Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.