From Mourning to Joy

O LORD, how long will you forget me?  Forever?  How long will you look the other way?  How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?  Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!  Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

Psalm 13:1-3

I am exhausted and completely crushed.  My groans come from an anguished heart.

Psalm 38:8

Hear my prayer, O LORD!  Listen to my cries for help!  Don't ignore my tears.

Psalm 39:12

I am worn out from sobbing.  All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.

Psalm 6:6

My spirit is crushed, and my life is nearly snuffed out.  The grave is ready to receive me.

Job 17:1

"Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived.  Let that day be turned into darkness.  Let it be lost even to God on high, and let no light shine on it. Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own.  Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it.  Let that night be blotted off the calendar, never again to be counted among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months.  Let that night be childless.  Let it have no joy.  Let those who are experts at cursing - whose cursing could rouse Leviathan - curse that day.  Let its morning stars remain dark.  Let it hope for light, but in vain; may it never see the morning light.  Curse that day for failing to shut my mother's womb, for letting me be born to see all this trouble.  Why wasn't I born dead?  Why didn't I die as I came from the womb?  Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace.  I would be asleep and rest.

Job 3:3-11; 13

He said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave.  The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken away.  Praise the name of the LORD!"

Job 2:21

You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 56:8

But I trust in your unfailing love.  I will rejoice because you have rescued me.  I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.

Psalm 13:5-6

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

Psalm 30:11

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

Psalm 147:3

Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.

Psalm 50:15

"God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Matthew 5:4

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  All these things are gone forever."

Revelation 21:4