A Dance of Celebration

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! — Psalm 30:11-12 NLT

There is a deep joy — the sort of meaningful, overwhelming, heart-swelling sort of joy — that can’t be expressed in words alone. Because I was a dancer and choreographer in my younger days, my eyes light up when I come across a Bible verse that mentions dancing. I understand that impulse to worship with my whole being. During my private devotions, as I ponder the love of Jesus and all He has done for us, I still sometimes raise my arms or spin across the room in an expression of praise.

Whether we use song or dance or whispers from a timid heart, there are many ways to rejoice in the presence of our Savior. But today, I looked at the first part of the verse. David’s psalm is not speaking of a carefree happiness; his praise comes out of heavy mourning. What a strange concept!

It seems that the deepest and most heartfelt joy is born through what we learn from Jesus in times of loss, grief, and pain.

Each year I spend on this earth, my list of loved ones who have gone ahead to Heaven grows longer. Yet daily, Jesus brings joy into the sadness. All that He has done for me means that one day my joy will be complete. Mourning will be over for good. He will ultimately clothe me in joy, and in the meantime, He daily invites me to a dance of celebration — anticipating in faith what is to come.

~Sharon Hinck

Faith Step: Lift your arms in praise to Jesus this morning. If you are mourning, meditate on today’s verse and believe that He will transform that pain into joy.

Excerpted with permission from Mornings with Jesus 2021, copyright Guideposts.

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Your Turn

This hasn’t been much of a dancing year, has it? And yet there is a finite timeline for grieving and sadness, loss and difficulty. It will end! We can dance with joy and praise in the Lord because He deserves our thanks. What are you grateful for? Come share with us! ~ Devotionals Daily