There are 365 days in a year. And for each of you, there is a day that brings pain. Maybe more than one.
Your mom died on October 19. Perhaps your husband had a heart attack on December 23. You miscarried on May 2. A divorce you didn’t want was finalized on September 23. A valued coworker committed suicide on March 23. Enough pain to fill the calendar many times over.
For me it was today — February 4. Actually, today was a good day. You see, my brother Jeff would have been 66 today if not for that fateful car accident so many years ago.
But these words are not about me. They are about us. As you read these words it would not surprise me that hard days are clawing their way back to your remembrance. I’m sorry.
I led a Bible study yesterday that centered on Psalm 137. This poignant psalm reflects on captive Israel sitting on the banks of a Babylonian river. They were having a bad day — quite a few bad days, actually. They had given up. “We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.” vs. 2 NLT Their Babylonian captors taunted them. “Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!” vs. 3 NLT
Their joyful music was gone. They couldn’t muster a tune. Not in captivity. Not while having a bad day.
Are there days when you find it hard to sing?
Pastor and author, John Piper lays out three truths:
#1 – “God’s providence ordains that his people often suffer song-silencing affliction.”
Find it hard to sing? You’re not alone. Read the Psalms.
#2 – “God’s providence ordains that his people endure other measures of suffering, and that we bear it with singing.”
There are days — God-ordained days — when we do find a Balm in Gilead by singing. In the shower. On the way to work. Quietly at church. Moments of connection with God.
#3 – “God’s providence ordains a day for his people when suffering will be no more, but singing will last forever.”
So here’s the really good news. In Revelation 15, John sees victorious saints on the sea of glass who have all experienced painful days. He encourages you and I with these words, “They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses . . .” vs. 2-3 NLT There will be no harps hanging on trees in Heaven!
Until that glorious day, may I share another song? The night before my brother Jeff died, his roommate Bill told us that Jeff wandered off to bed singing, “Jesus Loves Me.”
If there are days you cannot muster a song — please sit quietly in the presence of Jesus and know that He loves you.