Let Your Weeping Be Turned to Joy!

Scripture:  Psalms 30:11 – You have turned for me my mourning into dancing. You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness.

John 20:1-16 - The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

I Thessalonians 4:13-14 – But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope.  For if we believer that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  

In John 20:1-16 we see that Mary Magdalene’s sorrow, pain, discouragement/sadness, was turned to joy!  Can you imagine how she felt when she came to the tomb – so burdened down and weeping because Jesus Christ had been unmercifully crucified.  He was not in the tomb when she arrived, and the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she saw Simon Peter and John, who Jesus loved.  Mary asked them where was Jesus and/or where had someone moved Him?  She probably felt so hopeless and confused.  An angel and Jesus asked Mary a question.  “Woman, why are you weeping?”  As distraught as Mary felt, her weeping later was turned to joy!!  At first, she really didn’t realize that Jesus actually was going to be resurrected.  Her countenance was then lifted!  It is nothing wrong with crying.  After all, Jesus wept.  

When we are at our darkest times, it is as if Jesus is asking us the same question – Why are you weeping or why is your joy being held back?  Pain, sorrow and weeping are real.  Have you ever hurt so much that you thought you would never get over what you were grieving about?  There have been times when I felt like what I was going through was the end of the world.  For some people, what is overwhelming is the death/loss of a family member or a close friend.  For some, it seems as if they will never recover from the pain of health issues, the loss of opportunities – something they wanted to occur in their lives but it didn’t happen.  Our painful situations are real, but as we cry out to the Lord, He can and will heal our hearts as time goes by.  Everyone grieves differently. The Lord is very near to those who trust and obey Him.  It is amazing how the Lord can make the intensity of our pain subside or dissipate.  He has promised that He will never leave or forsake us.  He will comfort us and see us through whatever we are facing.  No matter what we are facing, we can have hope, peace, joy, and be consoled.  What an awesome God we serve!!!  The Lord knows what we are going through, and He cares about the intricate details of our lives.

Prayer:  Thank You Lord Jesus for helping me in my darkened times of sadness, weeping, and despair, to be turned to joy, and comfort!  I pray that we will always allow You to turn our weeping into joy.  I’m so grateful that the joy (that You give us) is our strength!  (Nehemiah 8:10) Amen.

(by Marsha Williams)