27 June 2022 - Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning

Hebrews 5:7-10 (MSG) “While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honoured God, God answered him. Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him.”

Jesus cried out to God. When people come against Him and He felt alone, Jesus cried out to God. He was not immune from hurt. He experienced pain and difficulties. In these instances, Jesus would cry out to His Father.

The Bible says: Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow. 1 Peter 2:21-24 (MSG) “This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way.”

God will never despise a broken heart. When King David recognised the enormity of his sin with Bathsheba and his attempted cover-up that ended with her husband’s death, he cried out to God in deep repentance. Psalm 51 records his heartfelt prayers and what he had learned about how God wants to be approached.

Psalm 51:17 (NLT) “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”

Psalm 147:3 (AMP) “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds .”

“Jesus lost all his glory so that we could be clothed in it. He was shut out so we could get access. He was bound, nailed, so that we could be free. He was cast out so we could approach. And Jesus took away the only kind of suffering that can really destroy you: that is being cast away from God. He took that so that now all suffering that comes into your life will only make you great. A lump of coal under pressure becomes a diamond. And the suffering of a person in Christ only turns you into somebody gorgeous.” - Tim Keller

I conclude with Psalm 30:5b (NKJV) “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”