Manna for Your Morning

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. — Job 42:12 (NIV) Whether your former life was great or not so good, the LORD can make the rest of your life, the absolute best of your life. He will turn your sadness into gladness, and your mourning into dancing. He takes the barren and makes it fruitful. He fills what is empty. Our mighty God will restore what the enemy has stolen and what the locusts has eaten. What is dead, our living God can breathe new life into it. What you once thought was a problem will be your praise. “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the LORD and whose hope and confident expectation is the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7 AMP)

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) Jesus calls all who are weary and carry heavy burdens to come to Him and He will give them rest. (Matthew 11:28). Release your burdens to the LORD and He will sustain you. (Psalm 55:22). He beckons us to come to Him, because His grace is enough for us. He supplements our weaknesses with His strength. Wherever we fall short, His grace fills in the gaps. He illuminates the dark places with His life-giving light. He turns our sorrow & sadness into joy & gladness. In His Presence, we can let go of disappointments and discouragement and cling to the living hope we have in Christ.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven  — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) I’m sharing this for those who are not full of cheer this holiday season. If you are consumed with sadness or depression during this time, this is a reminder that this too shall pass. Times and seasons come and go, but through it all, we have our great God, who never changes. One Christmas morning, 23 years ago, I found myself lying on the living room floor, in front of our Christmas tree, with tears pouring down my face, having suicidal thoughts. I was experiencing marital difficulties and I was miserable and hopeless. I could hear the enemy telling me to go in the bathroom and hang myself. He told me my life was not going to  get any better. I almost believed the lies. Fast forward to the present, I’m loving my life, walking with the Lord, standing on His Word, happily married for 18 years. On that cold Christmas morning, I never imagined the possibility for my life to be ...

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.  — Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) God changes our sorrow into dancing. He takes away our clothes of sadness, and clothes us in happiness (Psalm 30:11, NCV). When we go through our dark nights, we can be sure that  the bright light of morning will soon appear. The sun will rise again and break through the clouds of gloom. Just as sunshine comes after the rain, there will be joy after the pain!

“I am the LORD God of all humanity. Nothing is too hard for me.” Jeremiah 32:27 (GW) Nothing is too hard for Almighty God! He brought life to Sarah's dead, barren womb and it produced living fruit. And Abraham became the father of many nations. Our heavenly Father has ways to turn situations around. He changes our darkness to light, our sadness to joy,  and desperation into hope. When the land was experiencing a drought, God used birds to bring food to the prophet, Elijah, twice a day, (1 Kings 17:2-6). Our heavenly Father is able to provide whatever we need, one way or another. Nothing is too difficult for Him!