This week was an intense contrast of highs and lows, joy and tragedy.

• Joy: Bishop Cho came to Lynchburg to ordain one of our pastors, Lisa Barbery.
• Tragedy: Called just before the ordination to be with a family whose child died suddenly.

Our lives are often filled with contrasting moments which bring agony or joy, pleasure or pain. There are weddings and divorces. There are funerals and also baptisms.

Psalm 30 describes such intensely contrasting moments.

Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:4-5)

At times, God is angry and disappointed with our all-too-human actions but only for a moment because God's gracious love lasts a lifetime. Disappointments come but joy follows.

When I was prosperous, I said, "Nothing can stop me now!"

Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. (5)

At times we are prosperous and full of confidence. There is a sense of fulfillment and security.

Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

I cried out to you, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy... (6-7)

Other times we are shattered, feeling helpless and abandoned. There is a sense of being lost.

So, what do we do?

Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD.(10)

Could it really be that simple? Actually, yes.

• Hear me. Continue to hear me as I come to you.
• Have mercy on me. Have mercy on me when I fall short of your expectations.
• Help me. Help me learn and grow from my mistakes.

God's offers answers in the midst of whatever we experience: God promises to hear us. God promises to have mercy on us. God promises to help us.

Here is the best part of God's promise.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

that I might sing praises to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever!

Yes, at times there will be weeks filled with joy and pain but God promises to turn our mourning into joyful dancing, take away our clothes of mourning and clothe us with joy.

So that, we sing praises to God and not be silent. We give God thanks, forever.

Joni E. Tada, writes: Lord and Savior, I have every confidence in your character. You are utterly reliable and truthful. Today, I am going to take you at your word even if doubts or fears arise. You have the words of life and I am happy to say, I believe the Lord!

In the midst of intense joy and intense pain, we can rely on a God who will hear us, have mercy on us and will help us. We know that God will ultimately turn our mourning into joyful dancing.

So, I pray with confidence in the character of God. I pray knowing that God is utterly reliable and truthful. I pray taking God at His word even as doubts or fears arise. I pray, knowing God has the words of life and I am happy to say, even in the midst of a week filled with intense moments of joy and pain, I am happy to say:

I believe the Lord! Amen!