“The roads to Zion mourn because no one travels to the festivals. All her city gates are deserted; her priests groan. Her virgins grieve; she is in bitter anguish!” Lamentations 1:4 NET

Mourning vs. Morning

The above verse is talking about mourning over the fallen city of Jerusalem when Judah was conquered, but as we see images of empty cities from across the globe, it could be talking about any number of them right now.

I’m mourning a lot of things. The Hawaii vacation my husband, all our kids, our granddaughter and I were supposed to take the first week of April to celebrate our 30th anniversary. The deepening depression and anxiety I see in my teenage daughter’s eyes as she sees the good, bad and ugly of  being unable to go to school or interact with a friend on a daily basis as she is used to (and the urging of  phone calls/texting/face time by me are repeatedly given a no-go). Trying to navigate what distance learning is going to look like with a child who asks me, “Am I the only one who feels the despair in the air?” No, honey, you’re not the only one…but as an adult I know we still need to do what we need to do regardless. I’m able to work remotely, which is good, but I can tell my concentration is not what it usually is, or my production, for that matter.

We’re now purposing to limit how much we talk about Covid-19 and the havoc it brings on a global level, but I’m finding that means we’re communicating less and less, which tells me we’re focusing on the wrong things.

Sleeping, eating and exercise patterns are completely out of  whack…and my ears are out of tune, because even though I KNOW God is so near, I’m having a very hard time hearing Him right now. Are we the only ones feeling this way?

As I start down a rabbit trail, I take a slow, deep breath and ask myself, “What do I know….?”

…God loves us and will once again give us beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning. (Isaiah 61:3).

…this won’t last forever–weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5b NLT).

…we serve a loving and faithful God whose mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23 CSB). 

…it’s coldest, and often feels darkest, right before dawn. But it’s just preparing us for the light of the new day and the promise of new beginnings. God promises He will be our everlasting light and our days of mourning will come to an end (Isaiah 60:21).

It’s okay to mourn, necessary in fact, but let’s focus on the morning and the things we know about our Lord.

Father God, help us navigate these times and press into You. Help us mourn in appropriate ways, but also look toward the morning You will most assuredly bring. Amen.