Are you in a season of weeping or laughing?

This week I just wanted to cry. Do you ever feel that way? I wanted to cry but no tears would come. It has been a tough week full of strained relationships and disappointments. 

For many of us the year of 2020 can be characterized by disappointments. We are disappointed by job loss, financial strain, and sickness. Perhaps we feel let down by our political party or the government’s response. We are disappointed that our favorite local business is struggling, mental and emotional issues are being exasperated, events and dreams are being cancelled and closed. 

We could all list many disappointments that this year has brought, but none of them would catch God by surprise. In fact God tells us in the Bible to expect tough times. Scripture says there is a time to weep … a time to mourn…,” (Ecc. 3:4). But, if we fill in the missing part, this passage also reminds us that times of sadness and grief do not last forever, “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” 

Knowing that seasons of weeping and mourning do not last help give us wise perspective. These seasons can train our hearts to be thankful for all God’s good gifts we experience. When times of fun come, we appreciate them as we “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8). The good, beautiful, fun times in life reflect a part of His character. He created fun! The times of laughter can also give us a glimpse of what we can ultimately expect when Christ returns one day. One day soon, Christ will come back and set all things right. The times of peace, contentment, joy are little glimpses of what we will experience one day more fully.