Singing Through Sorrows

I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:6

Here is the man who had sorrow in his heart all the day breaking into song!  We do not find that his troubles were any less.  The enemy was still exalted over him, and boasted of having prevailed; it seemed indeed as though he must soon sleep the sleep of death.  But he never let go his trust.  Whatever were his outward discomforts and trials, he clung to his God and waited patiently for Him; with the result that out of his stormy griefs he built a Bethel, and in the midst of his anguish broke out into song.

When we are sitting under the shadow of severe trial, God can wrap us about with the garment of praise, and fill our mouths with singing.  Although the fig-tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit in the vines, yet the soul may rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of salvation.  You cannot starve a man who is feeding on God's promises; and you cannot make that man or woman wretched who has a clean conscience, the smile of God, and the love of Jesus in the soul.

When brave old Thomas Halyburton lost his much-loved son, he made this record:  "This day has been a day to be remembered.  O my soul never forget what this day I reached.  My soul had smiles that almost wasted nature.  Oh, what a sweet day!  About half-an-hour after the Sabbath, my child, after a sharp conflict, slept pleasantly in Jesus, to whom pleasantly he was so often given...Jesus came to me the third watch of the night, walking upon the waters...He stilled the tempest in my soul, and lo! there was a great calm."  When God is bereaving us of all else, He may so fill us with Himself that we shall magnify his bountifulness.

~F. B. Meyer, Our Daily Homily