Turning Grief to Joy-Distraction of the Dawn

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22, 23

Morning is a time that engages the senses. The pastel ribbons of the dawning sun delicately paint the sky, while the fingers of light gracefully float over the horizon, giving definition to the shadows in the landscape.   The birds fill the air with a cheerful chorus, and the fragrance of the morning dew refreshes and energizes me.  I love taking my coffee out on the deck and basking in the gift of God’s new day. When I rise early enough to experience the dawn, I gain strength for the day through His early morning gifts.  Unfortunately, I find it difficult to wake up in the morning and often tap the snooze button to garner a few more moments of sleep.

As we approach Easter, I think about that morning when Mary went to the tomb right before dawn with spices to preserve Jesus’ body. The grief must have been excruciating. Would she still be questioning why his death had to happen? Most likely, she missed the beauty of the colorful sunrise, as well as the song of the birds. All her strength was devoted to navigating grief while finding the courage to care for the body of Jesus.

Sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Mary had no expectations of joy after such a tragic loss. Perhaps she had not slept at all, tossing and turning restlessly.  As morning came, and she began her journey to the Garden Tomb, the place where Jesus was buried. Did she feel fear when she found the stone rolled away?  Or anger at the empty tomb? Whether sorrow, anxiety, or anger, she rejoiced when the resurrected Savior revealed Himself.  This is the story of Easter!  God’s gift of salvation is freely offered to us just like the gift of a new beginning each day.

Sometimes our burdens blind us to the ability to experience the peace and joy that the Lord wants to give us.  Stress and exhaustion can hinder our ability to be energized by the gifts of the new day.  No matter where you are today, remember, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness, Lamentations 3:22,-23. Each morning brings a promise of His faithfulness and a new beginning.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of salvation and grace freely given to me through the resurrection of Your son, Jesus.  Help me to experience Your presence each morning in the gifts of creation and the words of Your scriptures.  Amen.