Joy Comes in the Morning
“Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”
Last night we had an incredible thunderstorm on Shalom Farm. We saw rain like we have not seen for several years. There was lightening, there was thunder and even some hail. The wind blew like I haven’t seen for a long time. My dear wife, Jill, was running around with basins trying to catch the rain water that was leaking through our tin roof. The lights went out and rivers of water started running past the entrance of our little house.
When I woke up very early this morning, it was still dark. I heard a solitary bird starting to sing in the trees. As I lay in my bed I said to Jesus, “Lord Jesus, how is it possible for a little bird like that to survive that most incredible thunderstorm?" Then I was reminded again that the Lord says there is not a sparrow that falls from the sky that He does not know about, and He takes care of them all. My heart was strangely warmed and I then felt the arms of Jesus around about me.
I then went for my normal ride on my mountain bike when the sun was just starting to break from the darkness. I saw the fields that have been prepared for planting the crops and there were sheets of water lying in the middle of those fields and I thought to myself: "The farmers will not be working with their tractors for at least a few days". But the birds were singing all over the place and the air was pregnant with new life - my heart rose and I started praising the Lord at the top of my voice. That beautiful scripture from Psalms 30 came to my heart:
Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalms 30:5 (NKJV)
As I rode my bicycle, not a soul to be seen on the roads, I gave glory to the Lord our Creator. As you know I have been through a very turbulent time, as has my family and I (and our entire team over the past few weeks), have had to do some deep soul searching. But the Lord has promised me again this morning, in my quiet time, through the Book of Romans 16:20: “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”
That is exactly what’s happened. Not only is it a new day because the drought has been severely broken on the farm, but in my own spiritual life there has been an incredible victory.
Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalms 126:5-6 (NKJV)
As I write this letter to you, I am packing and getting ready to go to Israel to “The Promised Land” with over 200 Pilgrims. We will spend 6 days visiting the sacred sites of Israel, which I know so very well. The Holy Spirit will minister to my soul and will prepare me for the next season. I have never been so excited about our beloved South Africa as I am at this present moment. I can smell revival in the air. I can feel it in my bones and I thank God for his faithfulness to His people.
I don’t know what storm it is that you may be going through at this present time, my dear friend? Maybe you are going through a divorce, maybe you have lost a loved one; or your dearest partner for many years, maybe you have a sick child, maybe your business is on the verge of bankruptcy, and you just don’t want to get out of bed anymore, maybe you feel like ending it all?
Oh my dear friend - my dearest friend, I implore you to fix your eyes on Jesus Christ. He will not forsake you; He will not leave you (Hebrews 13:5). He has not left me, in fact He has redeemed me, and Jesus will redeem you. Please keep on keeping on. You have no idea how close you are to a breakthrough and a victory in your life, a new beginning, new opportunity and a brand new day. He will see you through, but He requires you to stand by faith and trust in Him with all of your heart, in-spite of your difficulties!
May God bless you richly as we face a new season together in our lives, and in our families, businesses, careers, our country and indeed in the world. Christ is Lord of all.
With much love,
Angus and Jill Buchan