Rejoicing Over God’s Favor

O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,

and you restored my health.

You brought me up from the grave, O LORD.

You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones!

Praise his holy name.

His anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime!

Weeping may last through the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

Psalm 30:2-5

Although God prevented David from building the great Temple in Jerusalem, this prayer of David was sung when the Temple was dedicated. The prayer’s words echo the experience of someone who had survived God’s anger and was rejoicing in God’s mercy. Even a moment of God’s anger created a night of weeping for David. But the darkness and sorrow of the night were always followed by a joy-filled morning—a restoration of David’s relationship with his Lord. David knew God didn’t get angry without reason, and the appropriate response to God’s anger was repentance.

In your nights of painful waiting, remember that the Lord will surely bring about a morning of joy. Rejoice that one day he will wipe away every tear forever (see Revelation 7:17).

• Dear Lord, I look to you to bring me favor and joy once again . . .