It Is Only For A Season

Psalms 30:10-12 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

It is no big secret that we, as Christians, are not exempt from experiencing hard times. If we think that we will escape persecution, as the church, then we are very much deceived. We are fooling ourselves, if we think that these last days will not bring persecution before the Lord's return. Today, the Psalmist reminds us that our time of suffering here on earth is short, and will be turned to rejoicing. Even if it lasts our lifetime, compared to eternity with Jesus, it is just a blink of an eye. The Apostle Peter put it in the proper perspective for us in 1 Peter 1:6-8. He reminds us that we should greatly rejoice in the fact that, if need be, being grieved by various trials, the genuineness of our faith is tested by fire, all for the honor and glory of Jesus. King David also reminds us, in today's Psalm, that even God's anger is only for a moment, but His favor is for life. So, even in those moments when the Lord must discipline us, "our weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning". In the end, we receive many blessings as a result of suffering, regardless of the source or the circumstance. If we suffer unto death, then we know we will be with Jesus. If He chooses to leave us here to endure, then our faith is strengthened; and if we are disciplined, then the end result is "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:3-11). Ultimately, all our suffering will end when we are either called home to be with the Lord, or He returns to get us. Either way, our suffering is only for a season, and as we walk through troubling times, we find comfort in the fact that God is walking with us through each, and every, circumstance.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).