I love the heading that this translation of the Bible includes for this chapter. It’s “Joy in the Morning.” I’m a morning person. For me, this doesn’t mean I love getting out of bed or getting up early. Instead it means that I have the most energy and gumption in the morning. By the afternoon, my motivation is waning. By the evening, I’m done with anything meaningful. My husband who is more of a night owl knows better than to ask me to help him with any kind of project after 9pm. It’s like my brain has already gone to bed.
And along with my lack of energy comes a kind of emotional fatigue as well. Things seem harder at night. Problems seem insurmountable. Troubles are overwhelming. When I feel like that, I know it’s best for me to just go to bed.
Because then morning comes and everything seems possible again. I can picture tackling projects one at a time. Life seems doable. There is joy in the morning. This verse is for me.
Of course, the verse isn’t just about morning people or energy boosts. David is talking about God’s love as well as His holiness. God loves me so much that He wants me to be my best, do my best, be holy like Him. Of course I fail, so He disciplines me, because He loves me. Loving parents discipline their children. It’s hard but makes the children learn and grow and be better people. God is the best parent. He loves me enough to discipline me. He makes sure I know when I have failed to live up to His standards. I feel it. I see it in the faces of people I’ve hurt. I read about it in His word.
But He doesn’t like disciplining me any more than a human parent likes punishing their child. So thankfully His displeasure only lasts the shortest amount of time necessary. His disappointed face may be turned away from me for a night, but there is joy in the morning when I have repented, and He shines his beautiful smile on me with forgiveness. And He says, “Ok, enough of yesterday. Let’s move on to today’s fun plan!”
Dear God,
Thank you for your perfect holiness and for your love. I’m so sorry that I am so bad at being holy. But thank you for providing your dependable grace and forgiveness through Jesus. Show me where I have failed, and help me to do better, but please keep your discipline short. Don’t hide your face from me for long. Thank you for the joy and refreshed promise you bring me every morning.
CamDevo 