Lessons On Living

[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 4:1 Matthew 23:37 1 Thessalonians 4:13 John 11:35

Good Grief

Esther 4:1

"When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry."

Good Grief

In the cartoon strip Peanuts, Charlie Brown often exclaims, "Good grief!" While he may not mean it in the literal sense, he is nevertheless right. Grief can be good. Studies show that those who express their anguish recover more quickly and are healthier as a result.

When Mordecai learned of the terrible fate being planned for his people, he grieved. Furthermore, he showed that grief in the traditional Jewish way--by donning sackcloth and ashes, lamenting loudly. Mordecai was not ashamed to show his sorrow. But neither did he let it sidetrack him. Following his expressions of grief, he took action.

Some Christians equate grief with a lack of faith. To them the unspoken rule is, "If you mourn, then you are implying that God is not good. Instead of grieving," they say, "just rejoice." But grief is a part of life, even for the most faithful.

The Bible certainly establishes parameters for our grief. The apostle Paul says, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13). This verse does not exclude grief but instructs us to hope in the midst of it. Jesus Himself grieved at the tomb of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35) and even shed tears over the city of Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37). Certainly Jesus was not lacking in faith.

If you are grieving today, don't be ashamed of it. You are not an inferior or faithless Christian because you feel sorrow. Allow yourself the right to grieve, but don't let grief rule your life.

Grieve, grieve some more, and then get up and get on with your life. Until the day comes when all tears will be wiped away, there's nothing wrong with "good" grief.

We rejoice in spite of our grief, not in place of it.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 4:14

For Such a Time As This

Esther 4:14

"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

For Such a Time As This

On October 3, 1991, Frederick Chiluba assumed power in Zambia's first democratic election, achieving a landslide victory. His first act as newly elected president was to call for a Celebration of Praise and to establish a Covenant with God before his people. He declared himself and his country subject to God's rule and asked for God's blessing. In 1996 he was reelected to the presidency of his African nation. God had His man at the right place at the right time.

History is filled with examples of God's perfect timing, but none is as dramatic as the story of Esther. Before anyone even knew about the need, God was preparing this young woman to be in the right place at the right time. Only a person with Esther's character, occupying a position as close to the throne as she did, could have accomplished the salvation of the Jewish people. God made sure it happened.

God is never caught unaware. When things develop at what may appear to us is a breakneck speed, God is always one step ahead. At the right time He maneuvers circumstances, removes obstacles and raises the right people to accomplish His will.

Sometimes the future can appear very uncertain. You may look at your situation and wonder how it's all going to work out. Don't allow yourself to be intimidated by the unknown. You have this assurance: at the right time and in the right place, God will provide for your need. If this is a troubling time for you, trust God. Even now He is preparing someone to help you for such a time as this.

If God was faithful to you yesterday, you have every reason to trust Him for tomorrow.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 4:16 Hebrews 11:37-38

Give It All

Esther 4:16

"Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

Give It All

General Charles Gordon served the British military conscientiously for many years in China. When the English government sought to reward him for his service, he declined all monetary remuneration but accepted a gold medal on which were inscribed his name and a record of his 31 engagements. At his death, the medal was missing. Later it was learned that during a famine in Manchester, he donated it to be melted and used to buy bread for the poor. In his diary that day he wrote these words: "The last and only thing that I had in this world that I valued, I have given over to the Lord Jesus Christ."

Esther, too, knew what it meant to give everything over to God--even her life. If being faithful to His calling meant she had to perish, she was willing. There was nothing that she would withhold from God's service. Life itself was less precious than the need to obey His will.

Others have followed in these same footsteps. Some had their lives spared, but others were killed. The writer of Hebrews says, "They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy" (Heb. 11:37-38).

Giving your all to Jesus doesn't make you a martyr; it makes you a faithful disciple. Are you willing to give yourself and everything you possess to Jesus? Can you say with the hymn writer, "All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give"? If you can trust Him with your eternal soul, can you not trust Him with everything else you have, even your life?

We can't give our all to Jesus and keep some for ourselves.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 5:2 Matthew 5:7 Romans 6:23 Romans 8:1

Finding Mercy

Esther 5:2

"So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter."

Finding Mercy

In the famous Rosenberg trial of the 1950s, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty of treason and executed. In the closing arguments of that trial, the lawyer for the defendants pleaded, "Your Honor, what my clients ask for is justice." Judge Kaufman, the presiding judge for the case, replied, "The court has given what you ask for--justice! What you really want is mercy. But that is something this court has no right to give."

As Esther came before King Ahasuerus, she also hoped for more than justice. According to Persian law, to come into the presence of the king unbidden was a crime punishable by death. That was justice. What Esther sought, however, was mercy and fortunately the king had the right to grant it. Bestowing upon her the protection of his golden scepter, Ahasuerus granted her the privilege of standing in his presence without fear of execution.

The Christian has received this same kind of mercy from God. On our own, we deserve eternal death for our sins. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death." That would be nothing more than justice. Through Jesus Christ, however, God has extended mercy to us. We can now stand before His very throne without fear of condemnation (Rom. 8:1).

As mercy has been given to us, let us give to others. Is there someone in your life who needs your mercy? Are you willing to give up your right to justice in order to show them mercy? Don't forget what the Scripture says: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt. 5:7).

Justice is for those who deserve it, mercy is for those who don't.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 5:3 Romans 8:32-32

Ask and You Shall Receive

Esther 5:3

"And the king said to her, 'What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you-- up to half my kingdom!'"

Ask and You Shall Receive

Among those who served in the court of Alexander the Great was a famous philosopher who had outstanding ability but little money. He asked Alexander for financial help and was told he could draw whatever cash he needed from the imperial treasury. Immediately he submitted to the treasurer a request for an amount equal to $50,000 today. The keeper of the funds was startled and said he couldn't give him that much money without a direct order. Going to Alexander, the treasurer argued that a small fraction of the money requested would be more appropriate. But the king replied, "Pay the money at once. This philosopher has done me a singular honor. By the large size of his request he shows that he has understood both my wealth and generosity."

King Ahasuerus showed an equally generous attitude toward Esther. He possessed enormous wealth and was willing to share it with her, even up to half of his enormous kingdom if she so desired.

Our Heavenly Father reflects this same bountifulness toward us. The apostle Paul wrote, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). No request is too big for God.

Perhaps you feel your need is too great to ask for God's help. Maybe you even think you have already tapped God's generosity to the extreme. Could He possibly forgive you again for that same sin? Will He really provide for that astronomical need? The answer is yes! If your request is consistent with God's will, you need never worry about asking for too much. God delights in hearing from you.

Big gifts are the sign of a big God.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 5:11 Esther 3:1

To Whom Credit is Due

Esther 5:11

"Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, all the ways in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king."

To Whom Credit Is Due

A proud woodpecker was tapping away at a dead tree when the sky unexpectedly turned black and the thunder began to roll. Undaunted, the woodpecker went right on working. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the old tree, splintering it into hundreds of pieces. Startled but unhurt, the haughty bird flew off, screeching to his feathered friends, "Hey, everyone, look what I did to that tree!"

Haman was a lot like that woodpecker. He was a man of many honors and much wealth. King Ahasuerus had promoted him to be chief among the princes of the Persian Empire (Esther 3:1). Sadly, along with the increase in his good fortune came an increase in his arrogance. Instead of giving credit to God, he called all his friends and family together and exclaimed, "Look what I've done!"

Too often we forget who really deserves the credit for our successes. Admittedly circumstances might give the appearance that we are responsible. Certainly we must use our intelligence and apply ourselves diligently. But even the assets of intellect and strength are from God. In addition, success is usually the result of factors beyond human control. Sometimes it's simply because God put us at the right place at the right time. If we view our success from this perspective, we begin to get some idea of how dependent we are on a power beyond ourselves--a power of God.

Success is enjoyable, but you'll enjoy it much more when you give God the credit. All that you have and all that you are is the direct result of His blessing. Don't forget to thank Him.

To sweeten success, try a little praise.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 5:14 Proverbs 19:20

How to Judge Advice

Esther 5:14

"Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made."

How to Judge Advice

America's first "official" advice giver was a woman whose pen name was Dorothy Dix. Her first column appeared July 11, 1896, in the New Orleans Picayune. The column ran for 55 years. By the time of her death in 1951, her column was carried by nearly 300 papers. She was popularly known as the "Mother Confessor to Millions."

Miss Dix has been followed by a hoard of others. We have Miss Manners, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Dear Abby, her twin sister, Ann Landers, and many more. In fact, most people relish the opportunity to give advice either officially or unofficially. The challenge on our part is to know whether the advice is good or bad.

Like you and me, Haman also had his advice givers. His wife, Zeresh, and his friends in the city of Shushan were more than happy to play to Haman's pride and prejudices. But the advice they gave ultimately led to his destruction.

As Christians, our best advisor is the Word of God. God never sugarcoats His commandments to spare our feelings. We can always trust Him to tell us what is right, even if we don't want to hear it.

Wisdom dictates that we turn to others for counsel. The Bible says, "Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days" (Prov. 19:20). It also warns, "There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel--that will stand." There are many places and many people from whom you can get advice, but make sure the advice you're being given is consistent with God's counsel.

Free advice is sometimes the most costly kind.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 6:2-3

Do Your Best

Esther 6:2-3

"And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. Then the king said, 'What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?' And the king's servants who attended him said, 'Nothing has been done for him.'"

Do Your Best

Several years ago, a crew of men was working on the road bed of a railroad when they were interrupted by a slow-moving train. The train stopped and a window in the last car--which was custom-made and air-conditioned--was raised. A friendly voice called out, "Dave, is that you?" Dave Anderson, the crew chief, called back, "Sure is, Jim. It's good to see you." With that pleasant exchange, Dave was invited to join Jim Murphy, the president of the railroad, for a visit.

After the train pulled out, Dave's crew surrounded him and expressed astonishment that he knew Mr. Murphy as a personal friend. Dave then explained that many years earlier he and Jim had started to work for the railroad on the same day. One man half jokingly asked Dave why he was still working out in the hot sun and Jim Murphy was now president. Wistfully Dave explained, "Twenty-three years ago I went to work for $1.75 an hour and Jim Murphy went to work for the railroad."

In the same way, when Mordecai became a court official, he went to work for the king, not just to draw a salary. His goal was not financial gain but to do the best job he possibly could. It was only natural, then, that when he discovered a plot on the king's life, he immediately reported it. He was loyal to the king and was only doing his job well.

Is your commitment to the paycheck or to the job? Are you fulfilling your duties to the best of your ability, or are you simply concerned about what you receive in return? Take your cue from Mordecai. Ask God to show you how you can honor Him through your employment.

When you take care of your job, God will take care of the paycheck.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Matthew 10:16 Esther 6:6

Look Before You Leap

Esther 6:6

"So Haman came in, and the king asked him, 'What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?' Now Haman thought in his heart, 'Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?'"

Look Before You Leap

Divers in Acapulco, Mexico, daily leap from the 87.5-foot-high La Quebrada cliff to the amazement of hundreds of gazing bystanders. In an extraordinary display of bravery, these daredevils risk death as they plunge into a rocky cove below only 12-feet deep. Their secret to success is that they carefully time their leap to coincide with incoming waves. When the waves are at their peak, they provide sufficient water to cushion the dive.

Haman could have profited from such an example before leaping to a conclusion that led to his humiliation. Eagerness to advance his own cause drove him to assume that it was he whom the king wanted to honor. Instead of receiving the privileges he proposed, however, he found himself honoring the man he hated the most, Mordecai.

The world is a dangerous place, especially for those prone to leap before they look. Scams abound even in religious circles. Too often miracle manipulators, financial swindlers and false prophets have operated under the banner of Christianity. Cultists prey on those who are rash or careless. No wonder Jesus warned his disciples, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16).

In every area of your life--physical, spiritual, financial, emotional--look carefully before you take a plunge. Compare the claims made by people or groups with what the Bible says. Never assume because they carry the name "Church" or "Christian" that they faithfully adhere to the teachings of God's Word. Look before your leap. Be gentle, but by all means be wise!

The most dangerous leap is the leap to conclusions.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 7:5-6 Luke 12:2-3

The Moment of Truth

Esther 7:5-6

"Then King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, 'Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?' And Esther said, 'The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!' So Haman was terrified before the king and queen."

The Moment of Truth

One of the early television courtroom dramas was "Perry Mason." Each week Mr. Mason faced a baffling mystery that required solving before the end of the hour. Often the conclusion came as the guilty party sat in the witness stand. Buffeted by the astute lawyer's penetrating questions, the criminal's carefully constructed facade would crumble and his guilt would be exposed.

A similar drama took place in the palace of King Ahasuerus. Just when it seemed that Haman's wickedness would prevail, the tables were turned and his evil plot was revealed. When Esther pointed to him as the one who dreamed up the diabolical plan to destroy the Jewish people, Haman plunged from the height of arrogant pride to the depth of abject terror.

But such moments of stark truth are not limited to history or television. The Bible reveals that we all have a future appointment with God where He will reveal to us everything we have said, thought or done. Jesus said, "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops" (Luke 12:2-3).

Now is the time to prepare for that future appointment. Be careful about idle words you might speak or thoughtless deeds you might commit. Live in such a way that when the secrets of your life are revealed, they are either harmless or covered by the blood of Christ.

What's done in secret is never a secret to God.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 7:8-10 Psalm 73:17-18

The Slippery Slope

Esther 7:8-10

"When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, 'Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?' As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, 'Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king's behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.' Then the king said, 'Hang him on it!' So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided."

The Slippery Slope

The fastest speed for a cross-country skier was set by Aleksey Prokurorov of Russia on March 19, 1994. Mr. Prokurorov maintained an average speed of 16.24 miles per hour for 50 kilometers. On the other hand, the speed record for downhill skiing belongs to Philippe Goitschel of France, who, on April 21, 1993, whizzed down the hill at 145.161 miles per hour. The drastic difference, of course, is caused by the slope.

Sin is also a slippery slope. In Psalm 73, the psalmist says about the wicked, "Then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction" (vv. 17-18).

When Haman plotted to destroy the Jews, he placed his feet on a slippery slope. Then, like a downhill skier out of control, he careened first through exposure, then condemnation and finally death.

Sin still operates that way today. Most people begin with small transgressions. Perhaps they shoplift a candy bar or rent an X-rated video. These sins seem rather small compared to bank robbery or rape. Yet they set the person's feet on the edge of a very slippery slope.

If Satan whispers in your ear, "Go ahead. It's only a little sin," tell him you know better. If you refuse to take lightly the minor transgressions, you'll be sure to avoid the major ones.

The best way to avoid going downhill is to stay off the slope.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 8:1-2 Romans 8:17 Philippians 4:19

From Rags to Riches

Esther 8:1-2

"On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman."

From Rags to Riches

During the 1995 Christmas holidays, a passing motorist spotted a limousine stranded with a flat tire on a busy stretch of New Jersey highway. The man graciously stopped and offered to help the chauffeur change the tire. Just as the task was finished, the darkened window rolled down and the man inside asked what he and his wife could do to repay the favor. "Just send my wife a big bouquet of flowers," said the guy and handed him his card. Two weeks later a gargantuan bouquet of orchids arrived with a card reading, "We paid off your home mortgage. Marla and Donald Trump." Informers say the Trumps forked over more than $100,000 for the gesture.

Mordecai experienced a similar windfall. With the death of his enemy, Haman, he came into the possession of all Haman's wealth, one of Persia's highest officials. From the position of a minor bureaucrat, Mordecai suddenly became second only to the king.

Every Christian is graced with this same fortune. As unbelievers, we were spiritually impoverished. We owed a debt to God we could never repay. But when we trusted Jesus as Savior, we received the promise of His provision for our entire lifetime (Phil. 4:19). Even better, we were made spiritual billionaires when we became joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17).

Perhaps you are experiencing lean times. In spite of your efforts to be a good steward, too much month is left at the end of the paycheck. Don't despair. Trust God to meet your needs. These times of testing will someday give way to an abundance that is beyond your comprehension. You have God's word on it!

He is a poor man who can only measure his wealth in dollars.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Esther 8:9-10

No Hurry

Esther 8:9-10

"So the king's scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded. . . . And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king's signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds."

No Hurry

There is an old fable that tells of three apprentice devils who came to earth to finish their apprenticeship. They were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt and ruin men. The first said, "I will tell them there is no God." Satan said, "That will not delude many, for they know there is a God." The second said, "I will tell men there is no hell." Satan answered, "You will deceive no one that way; men know even now that there is a hell for sin." The third said, "I will tell men there is no hurry." "You will ruin them by the thousands," said Satan. The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time.

Mordecai suffered no such delusion. He knew he had to hurry if he were to effectively counteract Haman's deadly decree. With no waste of time, he called the scribes to record his words in the name of the king and then sent off messengers on swift horses to cover the 127 provinces of the vast empire. Urgency was of the utmost importance if he were to save the lives of his people.

As Christians, we have an equally urgent message. It is a message that explains how people perishing in their sins can be forgiven and receive eternal life. It is a proclamation of grace and mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ. Without it, multitudes will go into a Christless eternity.

Don't let Satan delude you. We don't have plenty of time. In fact, the time is short and the message is imperative. Ask God to show you how you can be used to spread the Good News before it's too late.

Don't snooze with the news.

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[nChrist]

Title: Good News
Book: Lessons on Living From Esther
Author: Woodrow Kroll

Esther 8:17

"And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them."

Good News

Have you noticed how much bad news you are hearing lately? Terrorism, corruption and murder fill the headlines. Such terms as "AIDS," the "Ebola virus" and "ethnic cleansing" have become household words. Many people long just to hear a little good news.

The Jews of Esther's time felt the same way. They were inundated with bad news. To their dismay, they learned that the wicked Haman had influenced the king to order their destruction. For months they lived with the threat of death hanging over their heads. Apprehensively, they watched as their enemies gathered around them like jackals waiting for a kill.

Then came the good news. Haman's plot had been foiled. Instead of being helpless victims, they were given the right to defend themselves. What was to have been their day of destruction became a day of victory instead. Weeping and mourning were thankfully replaced with rejoicing and celebrating.

To a world weary of bad news, Christians also have the privilege of sharing some wonderfully good news. The Good News of Christ proclaims that there is victory over the evil one, who would destroy us. No longer do we have to live without hope and in fear of death; we can rejoice and celebrate instead.

Since we live in a sinful world, there still will be plenty of bad news to talk about. But ask God to send someone across your path today who is tired of hearing bad news. Then share with him the good news that can be found only when you place your faith in Jesus Christ.

Let others report the bad news; we'll share the good news.

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Esther
Scripture: Psalm 30:5 Esther 9:20-22

Joy Comes in the Morning

Esther 9:20-22

"And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews . . . to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, . . . as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday."

Joy Comes in the Morning

Life is filled with horror and tragedies. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and began a systematic annihilation of the Jewish people. During the years of the Holocaust, approximately 65 to 70 percent of all European Jews perished. In 1975 a group of rebels called the Khmer Rouge took control in Cambodia. Tens of thousands died under their harsh treatment. In 1994 the Rwandan president died in a plane crash under mysterious circumstances. Within a month an estimated 200,000 people in Rwanda died from violence unleashed by racial hatred.

The Jewish people in Esther's time were faced with tragedy as well. As Haman's plan for ethnic cleansing was proclaimed throughout the empire, grief enveloped the land. God's people responded with tears and cries of sorrow. What they didn't know was that even as they lamented, God was in the process of engineering their deliverance. In the midst of their darkest night, God was preparing a joyous morning.

Christians are not immune from such tragedies. Brian O'Connell, director of the Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Fellowship, claims, "More Christians have been martyred in the twentieth century than in the previous nineteen combined." This is horrifying, but our comfort comes from knowing there will be a joyous morning.

If you are experiencing a great sorrow, rest assured that God is preparing a time of joyous celebration. The psalmist says, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Ps. 30:5). When the morning of Christ's return breaks, sadness will be swallowed up by an everlasting joy.

God's dawn always follows grief's darkness.

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