Deeply grieved today, I am forced to choose. Stay fixated on the circumstances that plague our family and the sorrow of my journey or find a different angle.

No story this time, that would be fixating, but I trust you have your own. Loss, wounds, frustrations; impossible situations as parents, coworkers, friends, or children weigh us all. Insert your heavy-hearted situation here.

Each morning this week, has not brought the joy the scripture speaks of in Psalm 30. Half way through the day, more chaos reminds me that nothing has changed, so I pray, beg and plead for God to speak.

“Find a different angle,” He says.

“Show me one, God!”

This is His revelation, one that I am gripping tight fisted and pray that others will follow…

“Let your joy come in the mourning.”

Ahhhhh!

Breath that in.

I find Joy that my tears fall into His hands. (Psalm 56:8)

I find joy that He has control and I am only a passenger. (Proverbs 16:9)

I have joy that my sorrow is shared, not to be carried alone. (Matt 11:28)

I have joy that I can “press on toward the goal” to win the prize. (Phil 3:14)

I have joy that His “rod and staff comfort me,” (Psalm 23) that my “present sufferings aren’t worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us,” (Roman 8:18) and that I will have pain and trouble in this world but “He has overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Roman 15:4)

God doesn’t always desire to change our circumstances, but He does long to be our comfort and hope and peace in the midst of it.  I pray you find “joy in the mourning” and pass it on.