God Who Turns Sorrow Into Joy
Backgrounder on Isaiah 52-57:
Nowhere in the OT will you see
a clearer picture of the horrible price of your redemption than in these six chapters. And on this Good Friday, let us meditate upon
the many verses that show the
anquish your Savior endured
in paying the awful price of sin.
Lord, grateful Your visage was so
marred more than any man (52:14)
U were bruised… the chastisement
of our peace was upon You (53:5).
The Lord has laid on You
the iniquity of us all (53:6).
Jesus we’re eternally grateful.
We wholeheartedly adore U. Amen
Lord, U Turn Sorrow Into Joy:
Sing O barren woman, you who
never bore a child; burst into song,
shout for joy, you who were never
in labour; because more are the
children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,
says the Lord (Isaiah 54:1).
For a mere moment I have forsaken
you, but with great mercies I will
gather you. With s little wrath
I hid My face from u for a moment;
but with everlasting kindness
I will have mercy on you, says
the Lord, your Redeemer (v7-8).
Lord, Your Word says to sing
praises in the face of unfruitful
situations in our lives. So even
when my prayers seem to be
unanswered I will still praise You,
because I know that You can
breathe life into any situation,
even one that appears to be dead.
Help me to always trust that You
have heard my prayers and have
not forgotten my request. Amen.
Lord, You are holy and worthy
of praise! I want to worship You
at all times – when life is good
and even when it is difficult.
Hard and sad times are temporary
but Your favour is continually
with me. Though I may weep
and mourn now, I want to believe,
really believe that You are really
in control and that You will
turn sorrow into full joy. Amen.
Lord, when life turns ugly and
stays ugly, it’s easy to become
trapped in an emotional downspin.
Disappointment, discouragement,
disillusionment, depression -down
we spin until we may think all hope
is lost. But prophet Isaiah gives us
a different perspective: the promise
that hard times do not last forever.
Whether our difficulties are trials
intended to strengthen our faith
or divine discipline to train us,
the fact remains that You
God is praiseworthy. And that
You will eventually turn our
mourning into dancing. Amen.