Verses We Remember
April 30, 2025
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5b
Verses We Remember
It makes me smile when I remember how this verse became one of the verses I remember. I first truly heard it in a key moment on the television show The West Wing. Maybe I heard it before, in a sermon or a Bible study, but it was in that moment, in a script of a television show that I felt it come to life, and become foundational to my faith story. In these words, I hear an acknowledgement of the deep pain that comes from time to time into all of our lives – often catching us by surprise – and leaving us in a state of weeping. At the same time, I hear the promise of hope that there will be a morning, that a new day will come, that joy – the deep kind of joy – will show up in our lives again. To me, these words speak truth that I have experienced. The things that leave us weeping do not disappear, but they also are not the whole story. We are not left alone – we may not find a surface level happiness for a while, but somewhere at our core, we will find joy.
Do you have core verses or stories, songs or prayers that you remember when you are in pain or in trouble? Do you have foundational words that you hold onto? This morning, in a time in the world when we know there is pain coming into the lives of many people – I want to invite you to re-visit those verses that are at your foundation. Take the time to remember the words that bring you comfort and strength. Say yes to joy that can come into this morning, as we remember that we are not alone.
Reflection Questions:
1) Jot down some of the words that are core for you. If you’d like to, send them to me in an email.
2) What role does music play in your foundation? Is it the words or the notes that speak to you in your soul?
3) For me, I notice colors breaking in to my consciousness and helping me recognize the joy that is still present in the difficult times. It’s as though the light of the morning sun is helping to deliver the promise. When you consider what helps you recover your hope – what do you notice?
Prayer: Dear God, In all the times of my life, help me to dwell deeply in the knowledge that you are with me, and joy really can come again in the middle of my soul. In Jesus Name, Amen
