” …Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” (Ps 30:5).
Everyone, irrespective of his or her background, inevitably experiences the “night season” of life. The phrase “night season” in this context is a metaphor for the unpleasant and difficult season of one’s life. Owing to the fallen state of the earth, everybody experiences trouble at one time or the other in his or her life. It is an indisputable reality of life. The night season experience hardly, if ever, leaves people the same. It leaves them either better or bitter; it makes or mars them, but not without their consent. The good news, however, is the promise that, “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” (Ps 30:5). Praise God! No matter how long your night and weeping have endured, rest assured that if you understand the following characteristics of the night season and respond appropriately, your joy will surely come with the inevitable breaking of your morning.
An episode in David’s life provides us with important lessons in understanding the night season of life and how to respond correctly to it. 1Samuel 30:1-20 recounts the story of David and his men in Ziklag. He and his men had volunteered to assist the lords of the Philistines in their battle against Israel. When the lords declined their offer and sent them back to their base in Ziklag, David and his men did not bargain for what they saw in Ziklag. Their wives and children had been taken captive by Amalekite raiders. Consequently, both David and his men wept until they had no more strength to weep.
Disappointment is usually the first thing that characterises the night season of life. This is the state of failing to see the fulfilment of one’s hopes. David and his men had expected to meet Ziklag and their families the way they had left them, but it was not so (1Sam 30:3). While on their way back home, they must have imagined that their families would come out to welcome them, only to be disappointed. A situation in which your high hopes are dashed is a common hallmark of the night season.
Perplexity is another characteristic of the night season. In this condition, you are confused and troubled because you find it difficult to understand the situation (1Sam 30:4). David and his men were perplexed and troubled. Have you ever been confused about certain difficult situations in your life, not knowing how to explain them? You are most likely in your night season, in which you have more questions than you have answers. Maybe you have been sick and have received a disheartening prognosis from your doctor, yet with no clear diagnosis of the ailment. It is the night season.
Loneliness is also a feature of the night season of person’s life. This is a state of standing alone in a difficult situation. This was David’s condition when his men suddenly turned against him (1Sam 30:6). They had all suffered the same loss, yet for some reason David’s men felt it was his fault that they were in that situation.
Distress is yet another feature of the night season. Distress is a great suffering of the mind or body. This is as a result of the devil’s voice that attempts to introduce fear. David was greatly distressed.
Can you imagine the mental agony to which David’s circumstances at that point subjected him. Yet, he did something extraordinary : he inquired of the Lord. His response was extraordinary because, under the circumstance, he could have blamed God for having allowed the unfortunate incident. He had all the feelings that naturally follow such unpleasant experiences, but still sought God. It is not how ugly the circumstances surrounding you are that matters, but how you respond to them. Shalom.
