Scripture: Psalms 30:11  "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.  You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.

Dealing with someone who is sad, disappointed, and depressed can be a very discouraging ordeal.  Most of us, at some point, have been down this path with those whom we loved and desperately wanted to help, but unfortunately our efforts to rescue them out of the pit did not work.  We empathized with them but instead of drawing them out of their sorrow and grief, we have fallen into the same pit with them.  We ended up allowing their misery to dominate our lives.    

 

I remember that my dad had a better remedy for these kinds of situations.  Instead of joining the darkness, he always brought light.  He created a victory in the midst of defeat.  My problems as a child were minor, but there were times that I became sad or would pout when things were not going my way.  When my dad saw me entertaining a negative mood of this sort, he would begin to tease me.  He would say funny things, make ridiculous faces, and often physically tickle me in order to draw me out of my self imposed doom and gloom.  It usually only took a few minutes for him to have me in good spirits and laughing hysterically.  His positive response to my needs turned my mourning into joy and caused me to forget the sadness that was in my heart.

 

My dad passed away many years ago, but I still have someone who can successfully turns my mourning into joy.  His name is Jesus.  He understands all of my heart aches and pains.  He listens to my problems as I rehearsed them over and over again, but He never crawls into the pit with me.  Jesus does not make funny noises or ridiculous faces like my dad did and He certainly never tickles me.  But He is very present in my life and He knows what will strengthen and encourage me.  He will direct me to a scripture, which will be a personal Word of encouragement or cause a song of deliverance to suddenly spring up in my heart that will give me joy.

 

Jesus is present in your life as well.  You just need to recognize that He is near and receive His personal ministry to you.  As you focus on His goodness and call out to Him, He will change your darkness into light and bring happiness back into your life.  Trust in Him because He knows you better than you know yourself.

 

Isaiah 61:1-3 tells us how the Lord ministers to all of us when we are down and discouraged.  Jesus is anointed by God to speak good news into our lives.  He knows how to bind up our broken heart and to set us free from the things that hold us in bondage and captivity.  He will give us beauty for our ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.  The Lord does this so that we can have and enjoy life, but we must be willing to receive His love and ministry to us.  We must believe in Him and ask Him to bring us the restoration and joy that we need in our lives.  As we yield to His Spirit, He will turn our mourning into joyful dancing and we will not only be blessed but He will be glorified in our lives. +++