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Think back to a time, probably when you were a teenager or your children were teenagers. A time when you knew someone was going to be angry with you and you thought you were at your darkest hour. Oh, the perception of youth! And all of us have heard, "Well, I didn't tell you because I knew how angry you would be!"

Early this morning, as I was reading my devotion, I came across this verse..."For his anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5. The psalms were written by David, " a man after God's own heart" Acts 13:22. Yet during his life he experienced  much heartache but also godly favor. He faced tremendous affliction and persecution but also much joy and favor. David knew the dread of having those conversations with God when he knew God would be angry. We can be encouraged by the life and transparency of David who poured out his heart into the Psalms.

There are many commentaries on this verse. I am not a bible scholar and as I have said before; I write what God moves me to.  Today he is giving us a message of HOPE. What a beautiful verse and message! Let's look at the first part of this scripture. Think of it in our human experiences. Anger can be brutal. It can go from dread to death. Relationships have ended over anger, people have physically  harmed others because of anger, decisions are made in anger that have long lasting consequences.  Yet we see the character of God that his anger last only a moment...a fleeting second...a drop in the bucket. For us to really get the impact of this statement just think about how many moments, also defined as an "instant" in time, we have over our lives. The point God was speaking to me His anger is just a minuscule/fragment of time. The sentence then goes, "His favor last a lifetime"! I looked up the word "favor" and the best definition of the word is "demonstrated delight". Take a minute to reread the last couple of lines I wrote. God gets angry but never in the human way we do. His anger doesn't hold offenses, want revenge, end relationships, cause mayhem. His anger is righteous and lasts only a moment while his demonstrated delight "favor" lasts a lifetime. Remember that!

And now let's talk about what comes after the semicolon. Again, this little verse holds such nuggets of gold. This is for anyone who is struggling, having a hard time, facing hard situations. First off, if we are weeping there is something wrong. You are struggling. And then if you are weeping all night it stands to reason you have a big burden! And then add in the nighttime..."weeping may stay for the night". I have personal experience of the terrors of the night. During my daughters accident  and extended hospital stay the nights were the worst. Darkness has a way of growing our emotions. During the dark of the night the darkness can seem to take hold of you and drag you down deep. But again, God knows us with our emotions and weeping and weaknesses. We have a God of purpose; it is not by mistake that he set the heavens in order to reveal his himself as the sun rises on each new day..."but rejoicing comes in the morning".  With the rising of the sun there is a new day, the morning light that illuminates hope, joy, promise, and life.

What a treasure this Psalm 30:5 is and what hope and encouragement it brings to us. If you are dreading a conversation with God throw out your human life experiences and sit down right now and have that conversation. His anger will only be for a moment but his favor, delight, in you will last a lifetime. If you are burdened, depressed, feel the weight of the world this scripture tells us God's promise of joy and hope in each new day. What a treasure chest to open!

Finally, I pray that his words to me today will bring you some comfort, some encouragement, and always bring you a little closer in fellowship with our Almighty...

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

"Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." Isaiah 58:8