The weeping is over.

There is a song that has spoken to me this morning. It's called "The Myre and the Myrtle" by Frontier Music, and here are the lyrics:

"Though night seems long, I remember the sound of Your goodness
You sing Your song to surround me with deliverance
Here in this moment, You lead me to drown out the lie
You never left me, and only You can satisfy

We give our fears to the one who can save us
We lift our love to the one who forgave us

We will call on You while You are near
We’ll seek Your face while You can be found
There’s beauty for ashes, Joy for the mourning
The weeping is over, Your grace abounds

We will call on You while You are near
We’ll seek Your face while You can be found
And out of the myre, will come up the myrtle
The weeping is over, Your grace abounds

We will see in the land of the living
Full of thanksgiving, the goodness of Jesus
We will see in the land of the living
You do just as You promise

We will call on You while You are near
We’ll seek Your face while You can be found
There’s beauty for ashes, joy for the mourning
The weeping is over, Your grace abounds"

These words seemed to fit perfectly with the current situations of the world.  2020 has been a year of tribulation already, as we look back and remember the first half of the year. The problem, however, is that a large number of us aren't physically suffering from coronavirus, nor have we personally experienced racial segregation. It's easy to live comfortably in our own places, and it's easy for us to think about how these issues aren't really affecting us... but that does not change the fact that the world is full of sorrow and pain, even at this moment. 

The physical pain of suffering from diseases, the emotional pain of losing a loved one. The pain of hatred and anger like a double-edged sword, hurting both the opposing and the opposed. There is so much pain and suffering. The current generation alive in the world right now bears the weight of centuries worth of pain and suffering passed on to them from the previous generations. The history of wars, segregation, and sorrow is too large, and it's not something we can solve on our own anymore. The night seems long, and we have come to a point where things are really out of our hands. 

But even when the night seems long, the sound of His goodness surrounds us; his song of deliverance is surer than anything and everything else in this world. We can lift our hands to God, here and now, and He will drown out all the lies. God has never left us, and he alone can satisfy. 

He understands the pain, sorrow, and suffering we have. "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:18) He knows us, and He wants us to know him, too. 

This morning, I was frustrated about life and was angry at my sisters for stupid reasons. I didn't want to start my day like this so I asked God for forgiveness and asked God to open my heart to know Him better, to hear His Word, and know His will. I opened the Bible to today's passage and read Ezekiel 18. Ezekiel 18 is titled "The One Who Sins Will Die", and while this title seems very straightforward, too straightforward to the point of wanting to question God's loving and merciful character (God, please forgive me for doubting you...!), reading through the passage surprised me. 

It's about how the one who sins will die, but also about those who repent, no matter how sinful he/she is, will "surely live". 

“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!" (Ezekiel 18:30-32)

"Repent and live!" 

What a powerful word... As I was astounded by this glimpse of the immeasurable depth of God's mercy, I imagined the beautiful picture of all knees falling before the Lord and giving their fears and lifting their love to the Lord. I imagined people turning towards God, whether had been wicked or righteous, calling to Him, and seeking His face. I imagined the racists, slaves, thieves, murderers, presidents, prime ministers, bartenders, janitors, shopowners, social workers, teachers, businessmen, soldiers, manual workers, doctors, the sick, the wounded, the disabled, the white and black, young and old, women, men, LGBTQs, rich and poor.... and everyone, falling before the Lord in repentance and worship.

This image was so, so beautiful. Out of the long night, out of the ashes, out of the myre, there is beauty, there is joy, there comes up a myrtle. When there seems to be no clear answer, when the world seems to be falling apart, when problems seem like it's really getting out of hand, there is still hope. The hope that one day, every knee will fall before the Lord. 

I suddenly felt like listening to the song, "The Myre and the Myrtle", so I opened YouTube and listened to it. It didn't take long for tears to come in the image of God accepting the repentance of both the wicked and the righteous, and welcoming us to worship Him in the covenant of mercy and grace. 

The weeping is over, and His grace abounds. 

"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility," (Ephesians 2:14)

The weeping is over, and His grace abounds. 

"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." (Acts 17: 26-27)

The weeping is over, and His grace abounds. 

Despite the many differences we see and experience today; despite the hatred between peoples and nations; despite the pain, sorrow, and suffering, He gave us Jesus, the Prince of Peace. He has given us a purpose to live- to love Him and our neighbors. He commanded us to follow him and to preach the Gospel; to declare Him wherever we go, whoever we meet, whenever, and whatever the situation. The one and only God entrusted us with this mission so that all people would be able to come before Him in repentance and worship. Though the night seems long, He is not far from us, any of us. The weeping is over, and His grace abounds.