You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. (Ps. 30:11)
You can usually read a person by looking at his or her facial expression. People often try to fake how they feel, but we all tend to wear our feelings on our faces. Circumstances make us sad or excited. Phone calls or text messages can lift our spirits or drop us into the dumps. At times, like David, we think we cannot possibly shed more tears. People traditionally wore black to reflect the pain lodged deep inside their hearts. Today, that pain is usually reflected on their faces.
How does one wear joy? David gave us the answer in the words he used in Psalm 30. For some reason, he had thought he was secure and self-reliant. But before long, he was in the pits of life so much that it seemed God had hidden himself. David was focused on David.
Yet David got it right eventually. He knew the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He had a personal relationship with the sovereign Lord of the entire world. He knew his creator and had personally witnessed God’s power in his life and in his nation. Therefore, David knew the Lord was his God. He also knew his God would turn mourning into dancing. Only God can clothe us with joy as opposed to “wearing” the hopeless, sad emotions this world’s circumstances send our way.
Let your hope in God be seen on your face today.
Jim Dunn is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University. He previously served as the executive director of the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division for The Wesleyan Church.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
