Psalm 30

A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the temple. Of David.
 1I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up,
 and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
 2O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
 and you have healed me.
 3O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
 restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
 4Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones,
 and give thanks to his holy name.
 5For his anger is but for a moment;
 his favor is for a lifetime.
 Weeping may linger for the night,
 but joy comes with the morning.
 6As for me, I said in my prosperity,
 "I shall never be moved."
 7By your favor, O LORD,
 you had established me as a strong mountain;
 you hid your face;
 I was dismayed.
 8To you, O LORD, I cried,
 and to the LORD I made supplication:
 9"What profit is there in my death,
 if I go down to the Pit?
 Will the dust praise you?
 Will it tell of your faithfulness?
 10Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me!
 O LORD, be my helper!"
 11You have turned my mourning into dancing;
 you have taken off my sackcloth
 and clothed me with joy,
 12so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.
 O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

 

Psalm 30 exists as a psalm of thanksgiving to God for God's faithfulness in providing us with all that we need and God's faithfulness in bringing us into continued life. But in doing so, it doesn't ignore the existence of the pain that comes before the joy - the psalmist doesn't skip over the impact of grief and mourning, but recognizes that it's not the end. 

This life is hard. We go through rough times, and we often will face the seemingly impossible. But dearest siblings in Christ, joy will come in the form of the one who has redeemed us. 

I invite you to reflect on this Psalm with the words by musician songwriter Paul Zach: