The English language has so many really strange rules. There are, however, some really cool things I can get on board with. For instance, I love homophones. It’s so interesting to me that two words can sound exactly the same but be spelled differently and have a different meaning.

One Saturday over oatmeal the Lord spoke one of these homophone scenarios into my heart.

Morning and mourning.

“Mourning” is often defined as “the act of sorrowing, or a period of time during which signs of grief are shown.” It often follows closely after a passing of someone, but that is not the only case. Mourning takes on many forms. When your heart is hurting and heavy- that qualifies. If you are grieving a loss in any capacity- a loved one, a career, a dream, a relationship- you feel it then too.

Psalm 30:5 is an oft-quoted verse in the scripture that we go to when we are offering comfort. …Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” We remind the sufferer and in some cases, ourselves, that though weeping may last for a night, as long as we get to the morning, we will be okay. We strive to get through it and many times neglect to realize the importance of the night that comes with it.

We often beg God to take us out of the hard and painful circumstance, all the while, He is trying to teach us things only the darkness can help us learn.

Like the old song says:

“Sometimes He calms the storm, with a whispered peace be still. He can settle any sea, but it doesn’t mean He will. Sometimes He holds us close and lets the wind and waves go wild. Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child.”

Matthew 8:23-27 recalls the account of the men trembling in fear, as they were caught dead center in the eye of a violent tempest while at sea. Jesus was snoozing away without a care in the world while the boat filled with water and waves crashed against them. They were not happy. They questioned Him. They implored Him to make it stop. Little did they know, He was growing their faith and teaching them to rely.

I have prayed angry prayers and have shaken my fists at heaven, begging for God to take me out of whatever I was going through. That has always been my general go-to; looking for the exit signs and easiest way out. I have learned time and time again that the easy road is not always the path God wants me on. Not because He doesn’t love me, but rather because- like the disciples, in those moments, He is growing my faith and teaching me to rely.

Sometimes He calms the sea and leads me beside the still waters. Sometimes there is no mourning. I like those moments. He gives me them often. There are times, He may choose to quiet me and pick me up and carry me through it without having to feel a thing. But other times He doesn’t remove the hurt right away. He teaches me to endure and realize He is still in control and that the storm serves a purpose. I might not always feel Him close in the midst of the seemingly impossible situations, and maybe you don’t either, but He is always there. It’s in His silence that our faith is tested.

Joy can be felt even in the midst of immense sorrow. Sometimes that is the point. Maybe instead of taking you out, Jesus wants to take you through that valley and help you realize that joy comes along with the mourning. It’s present even when we feel like we are wandering and lost. Some destinations can only be reached through rough terrain and walking through, not avoiding the difficult route.

Yes, many times it comes after the storm but sometimes there is a special type of joy that can only be experienced in the mourning.

Rachel Skirvin is a lover of travel, nachos and the gospel. She is a graduate of Urshan College and will most likely always call it Gateway. She just recently married her best friend and together they are serving at The Pentecostals of Cooper City in South Florida.