By He Reads Truth
Show up to any home with more than a couple of people living in it and you’re likely to find a whole jumble of life happening all at once—elation in the living room, sadness on the back porch, boredom in the bonus room, and amusement at the dining room table. Sometimes you’ll even find that complicated jumble of life happening in one person all at once.
Joy and sorrow sometimes take turns, but often they awkwardly elbow each other out for the same heart and head space. These emotions are occasionally fleeting, but other times they can come in full, lasting seasons of grief or celebration. So how do we steward the tension of the two, both in our own lives and in the lives of those we love? The writer of Ecclesiastes wrestled with this very reality, concluding: “There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven…a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4).
We are complex human beings in a complicated world, and in this world we will have occasion to both mourn and dance—sometimes at the very same time. This invitation to search the scriptures for wisdom is one worth accepting. Let’s learn from the psalmists, the patriarchs, the early Church letter writers, and from Jesus Himself how to weep well before the Lord and how to wipe our tears and raise our hands in praise.
Until all things are made new, read on!
One thought on "A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance"
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Thomas Mason says:
Before It All Begins
Lord, as I begin this study, I come to You seeking quiet peace and a willing heart.
I bring what I’m already carrying—ongoing temptation, inner conflict, and restless thoughts.
There is tension in my work, uncertainty about what’s ahead, and a sense of waiting without clarity.
I feel the pull toward self-reliance and the frustration of not knowing what to do next.
Nevertheless, You meet me here at the beginning.
You are steady, even when I feel unsettled, and nothing I carry is hidden from You.
As I walk through this study, help me to be honest before You.
Teach me how to bring these things to You instead of carrying them alone.
Give me clarity in time, patience in the waiting, and strength in moments of weakness.
I trust that You will use this time in Your Word.
You are able to work in my life even when I don’t yet see change.
I will return to You each day.
I will remain present, and I will give thanks because You are faithful and You will not leave me as I am.
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Day 1
Lord, I come to You in this season, asking for steadiness in both what I understand and what I don’t.
There are things in my life that feel out of rhythm—uncertainty, tension, and ongoing struggle. I don’t always know how to carry both what is difficult and what is good at the same time.
Nevertheless, You appoint every season with purpose. You have not left me alone in trouble, and You remain present even when things feel unsettled.
Help me to endure what is hard without becoming discouraged. Teach me how to move through this season without losing focus or peace. Give me clarity where I need it and patience where I don’t have answers.
I know that sorrow will not last forever. You are able to bring steadiness out of confusion and joy out of what feels heavy.
I will remain grounded in You. I will acknowledge Your faithfulness in every season, and I will give thanks for both what You are doing now and what You will restore in time.
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