Sermon Central
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Sorrow Is Passing But Joy Is Permanent Series
Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 10, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: The Bible is very honest about suffering in this world. It declares over and over that pain, sorrow and weeping will be a part of life. However, the good news is that it is passing and not permanent. The negatives pass away, but the positives will come to stay.
Psalm 47:1 NIV 1 "Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy."
Psalm 71:23 NIV 23 'My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered."
There are many more such texts of shouting for joy, and you will notice that they often come because the shouter has been delivered, vindicated, and restored. They had to go through a tough situation and be delivered before they could shout for joy. The shout comes after the doubt and the pout during the time of suffering. It is the victory over the enemy or some affliction that leads to this shout of victory and praise. The night was not here to stay, but as God promised it has passed away, and now we rise with a new day and shout with joy. This is one of the key pictures that God's Word gives us over and over to encourage us to never give up to the negatives of life, but press on in hope of that new morning that will motivate us to shout out the praise of God with a heart filled with joy. Peter sums it up like this-"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Peter 1:3-6).Weeping, sorrow and suffering are real words, but the last word in God's Word is joy and rejoicing. In God's plan your final word will be a shout of joy.
From the sunshine of Thy dwelling
Thou hast sent me this new day,
Laden with Thy love excelling,
Tidings of Thy glory telling
To refresh my way.
Good and perfect gifts are lying
Wrapt within its folds of light,
Pledges of a faith undying,
That earth’s sorrow and its sighing
Will but last a night.
G. Matheson
