Sadness Into Joy

Psalms 30:11 You have transformed my deep grieving into dancing: you have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with joy; (GBMV)

This verse is very descriptive and uses pictures to describe the effects in our lives of the presence of the Lord.

David describes in this Psalm how he cried out to the Lord at a time when he was clearly facing severe problems and was filled with the fear of dying.

You might find yourself in a similar situation right now. The whole world is in upheaval and people are dying daily from the Coronavirus that has spread everywhere.

There is a chance that you or your loved ones could get infected, perhaps get really sick, and maybe even die. It is certainly a time of great woe for many and we as believers are not exempt from this.

Perhaps, like David, you have been crying out to the Lord to do something and to protect you. And anyone who meets you right now will probably see on your face, the signs of stress, fear, and worry.

When you meet a person who has that look on their face, you might be tempted to say something like, “You look like somebody just died.”

In Bible days when someone close to you died, you would go for a period showing your loss and grief by wearing a material that was used for sacks of grain. Even today sacks are still made with this coarsely woven, rough feeling material.

Right now you may not be literally doing this, but it is a good picture of the condition you may be in. Your life is falling apart and you are covered with sadness.

But this passage offers hope and a much better picture. All you need to do is hand over all your cares to the Lord, and suddenly everything changes.

Instead of moping around, complaining and feeling down, the Lord can transform you and the way you feel. Imagine this person walking along with their head bowed down. They are shuffling along with their feet, barely able to move because of the deep emotion inside.

But suddenly they straighten up and come to life. They begin to move their bodies rhythmically. Their face brightens up with a huge smile, as they twirl around in a joyful dance.

Now someone meeting a person like this may ask, “What happened? You seem really happy and full of joy.”

In fact, the joy is so great, that it literally surrounds you like a garment. You are radiant, and everyone can see it.

Which picture do you prefer, and which one would you rather experience right now? I am sure you would much rather be in the second picture than the first right?

Well, you can move from the one to the other, by simply handing your cares over to the Lord and putting your trust fully in Him. It is a choice that you have to make.

You have to make the first move. Why not try it now. Imagine that all your cares are gone, and life is worth living again. This is, after all, what the Lord promises us.

So take Him at His word and start acting like it is true. Put a smile on your face, and start moving your body to show how happy you feel inside. You will be amazed that as you do this, it becomes easier until eventually, it is no longer an act.

It will become a real experience for you. And soon folks around you will start to ask, “So what happened to you. You look really excited and happy?”

Then you can reply with the words of David. “I was really afraid and unhappy, But I cried out to the Lord and He filled me with joy and gladness. Now I feel like dancing with joy and telling the whole world.