Scriptures of Encouragement ~ A River of Weariness Meets Joy

The stars shone crisp against the inky sky. A chill in the air wrapped around me, teasing me with its accompanying shivers, but I didn't care. I stood mesmerized. Pulling my hands out of my pockets, I clasped them to my chest, slowly tilted my head back and stared with awe at the night sky. 

It was Christmas Eve.

Oh, Lord! Could the night You were born have been anything like this?

The air was still. Silent. But I heard music deep within my spirit. It was the words of a familiar Christmas carol:

Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining. 
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! 
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth. 
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, 
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!...

Oh my goodness! The Lord reminded me of the tears from the day before - tears of stress. Tears of "less than". Tears of...weariness. Yes, that was it. I cried a river of weariness.

But, under this starlit sky, a peace that passes all understanding washed over me. My soul felt its worth in the arms of my Savior. I could rise above the weariness and rejoice - truly rejoice because the Light of Christ was shining brightly in my darkness.

Is your world weary? Are you at your wit's end?

"Through the tender mercy of our God, 

with which the Dayspring [Messiah] from on high has visited us; 

to give light to those who sit in darkness 

and the shadow of death, 

to guide our feet into the way of peace." 

~ Luke 1:78,79

He is with us. Jesus - Immanuel - has drenched our darkness with the glorious Light of the presence of God. In the face of Jesus is the Glory of God. He is with us. He is for us. He preserves us, and upholds us, and sustains us with His love.

I put my hands back in my pockets and searched the heavens with an awakened heart. Lord, open my eyes that I might see and know the power of Your love. I imagined the stable with its heavenly light. I imagined the cry of the infant Jesus. And I imagined the exultant Gloria Deos ringing out across the heavens - a cacophony of joy. God's presence warmed me, reassured me, and gave me strength for the journey.

The weary world rejoices! Yes, and amen.


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TWEETABLES TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS

Jesus has drenched our darkness with the glorious Light of the presence of God. (Click to Tweet)

The weary world rejoices! Yes, and amen. (Click to Tweet)
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page. I'm featuring a music video of Josh Groban singing "O Holy Night" while the listener views film footage from the movie, "The Nativity Story". Sure to pull some heartstrings!