His anger is but for a moment;
his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
We had a ritual at our house when the boys were young: Bath. Book. Prayers. Bed.
The books ranged from "Goodnight Moon" when they were young to Hardy Boys when they where older. We're also surfing the web to find and give away to young parents what are now used copies of a favorite children prayer book, "Can you see me, God?"
Then, we'd snuggle the boys into their bed. The fresh smell of their baby shampoo wafting up. They'd cuddle. Giggle. Close their eyes. Squirm. Giggle some more. Relax into our presence. And there was love.
Love!
No matter what the day had brought - including tantrums, rebellions, anger, slamming doors, yelling, parental commands, lots of no's, and lots of tears - it was all wiped away in an instant. It was all wiped away in a blanket of love.
That's what this passage tells us that our relationship with God is like. When we rebel, we hurt God's heart. We cause a fracture. And like any parent, there's moments of grief, pain, frustration, and even anger on God's part as he deals with us. But - as today's verse says - "his anger is but for a moment[, but] his favor is for a lifetime."
In the evening, try creating a bed time ritual ... with God. And see if more joy doesn't come with the morning.
In Christ's Love,
a dad whose watching
his grown sons start
bedtime rituals with
their little ones
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