When things aren’t going OK!

Excl 3: 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,   The irony of me giving a sermon on dancing! Interpreters Bible Commentary says the order is easier to understand the sequence of events if read 6-7, 8-10, 1-3, 11-12, 4-5 All Scripture NIV

Will it proclaim your faithfulness Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help. I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you?

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

A. “I will never be shaken”  ”When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm;” I used to be just fine Good health Things going my way

B. Then I got sick “but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:“ Why has God turned away from me? “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Really sick. “You spared me from going down to the pit”

C. I prayed and I reasoned with God “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? “What is gained if I die? No concept of heaven. Eternal life through children Will the dust of the earth where I am laid praise you? If I go down to the pit? Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help. 

D. You healed me I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. YOU HEALED ME! AGAINST ALL ODDS! Some feel this Psalm written following a massive plague

E. You changed everything You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. Change the way I dress Put on an outlook of joy; happiness, hope

F. What I’ve learned? For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but (joy) rejoicing comes in the morning. God designs a cycle to life: God works wonders When God works an improbable healing, joy comes

So What? Life is precious Dance through it Pray through your difficulties Celebrate the good times Don’t ruin your good times with worry Celebrate the moment you have right NOW Play with your children, whatever their age Jesus came that you might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10)