Enduring the Night

Psalm 30:5

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

This verse acts as a lighthouse for many Christians and optimists alike. The promise of a new day, where the night’s sorrows have washed away serves as a light when navigating the tunnel. And it should because sometimes, it takes many mornings before joy returns. 

Long nights occur when we’re in the middle of shape shifting storms. These nights are testing and consuming. When you’re battling to find your footing, then moving forward feels too ominous to try. Perhaps the purpose of these moments is to force one to be still, especially if this doesn’t come naturally.

‘Joy cometh in the morning’ is a promise. A promise of the return of light. A promise of the return of peace. A promise that the night will come to an end, soon enough. And this promise, can be your lifeline when you cannot see an end in sight. It is in these moments, that one needs to learn how to endure the night. 

How can we endure turmoil without getting lost in it? A tiny little thing that is highly contagious, subtle but effective - hope. Hope helps us keep our fire burning for the return of our joy. Hope that joy cometh in the morning will carry us into the morning.

Holding onto the hope of a better day is perhaps the single most powerful way to brave your wilderness without getting lost in it. As we endure, understanding that our joy is not too far out of reach and that we will soon be able to reach it, keeps us sane. 

We need to remember that night falls on us all and thus reminds us of our humanity. We need to also stay steadfast in the knowledge that popular affirmations like “A bad day isn’t a bad life” and preferably, “this too shall pass” were spoken from experience. These words kept someone going. These words were spoken by many before you who overcame, and like them, so will you. 

Weeping may endure for a night. Your night of weeping and sadness is but momentary and fleeting. Yours is to honour the moment you’re in as one thing is for sure, it will not last forever. Your joy will cometh and when it does, you will be able to truly revel in it as it’s absence has made you more appreciative of its presence. 

When your joy returns, you will rise again. You will sing again. You will laugh from your belly again. 

You will be yourself again. 

But before then, endure the night and heal the part of you that is trapped in the shadows. 

By Phemelo Segoe