Make way for morning

"Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

           What a year 2020 has been.  Then, before we could roll up our sleeves for the new vaccine, news spread faster than the virus that it had mutated into a more contagious strain. If there ever was a bleak midwinter, this seems to be it.  

            I don't know about you, but I'm tired of mourning. I'm ready for morning!

            Christmas celebrates the incarnation of Jesus, who "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14) Not just for one moment, on a starry night in a manger surrounded by adoring parents, shepherds, wise men and angels. Rather he came for all moments. 

            He is Immanuel, God with us. All the time. In good times and bad, easy years and hard ones.

            How has God shown His presence to you this year? By providing for your needs, even if just barely? By protecting you from COVID or healing you once you had it? By providing you with nurses and doctors, delivery persons, grocery clerks and others who selflessly served you? By surrounding you with loved ones (in person or on your computer screen)? Perhaps it was in the darkest of nights, when you sensed His comforting hand even in the tragic loss of a loved one.

            These gifts may not be the ones we asked for but they are the gifts we needed. As losses mount, frustrations increase and patience wanes, it's tempting to pray over and over, "How much longer, God? Haven't we endured enough?" I'm trying to switch the playlist in my head to thanking God for what He has provided. Beside every lament in my journal, there's also a blessing.

            Weeping has come for this night, but Joy will come in the morning. The past tense of Christmas is that Jesus came. The present tense of Immanuel is that God is with us. The future promise of Advent is that the Messiah will come again.

            Fear not. He is present. He is coming. The time for rejoicing is near. Come, Lord Jesus.