Even though someone has a wonderful testimony, does it ever seem as if something is missing?  It not that you disagree with what's being said.  It's just that is seems that there is something more God is wanting to say?

It was during such a time that the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. "Darlene, why is it that My people testify when they see their prayers answered?  Why is it that you walk around downcast and don't tell of My greatness when you're in the midst of the storm?"

Whoa! That one left a mark!!

You see, I started this teaching almost a year ago. I knew it was to be entitled "Morning Joy," and that it was to be based on Psalm 30:5. However, no matter which direction I went with it, it just didn't come out right. I could tell the anointing was not on it, so I finally left it, knowing that God would give me the words when it was the right time.

September 11 came, and I thought, "This is why I was to wait. God is wanting me to encourage the nation."  However, the words never seemed to flow from the keyboard onto the page.

Then, after almost 32 years of working for the same company (as Vice-President, even), just before Christmas, my husband was called into the head office and told by the CEO that he was no longer needed.

So I concluded that God was going to have me wait until Duane found another job, and then we would have this fantastic testimony of what God had done for us. Well, after seven months of waiting for the phone call that would place Duane back among the gainfully employed, I decided that apparently wasn't it either.

And then I understood.

I knew all along that God would take care of us. I knew that He would lead Duane to another position, and that it would be better than what he had had before. I knew that we would have quite a story to share. But all the time I was waiting for the "ending." I never looked to the trial itself for the answer!

Scripture tells us that weeping may last for the night, but that joy comes in the morning. Always before, I saw it as "OK, the storm is going on right now, but it will pass and then everything will be just great."  But God said, "How about everything being just great during the storm?  Look at it this way: Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the MOURNING!!"

Now there's a thought!

Jesus slept during the storm (Matthew 8). He told His disciples that they were going to the other side. Because He knew what He was to do when He got there, that He had a purpose, He could sleep through the storm. He knew they would be safe, because He had been told to go to the other side - not to drown out in the middle of the lake. He had peace during the storm. While His disciples were getting all freaked out, Jesus was experiencing Morning Joy.

No matter what mourning you may be experiencing, just remember that you are not alone. God is right there with you. He has never left, nor forsaken, you. He has a plan and a purpose for you, and there will be a morning.

But don't wait until the morning to give Him glory. Don't wait until you get to the other side to testify of His love. Have His joy during the mourning, and you will have joy in the morning!