I started Thanksgiving Day by talking to God about you blog readers, with extra time spent on those who are widows. Many of you have contacted me through this site in 2013, and I’ve saved each of your stories in a cyber-file. You’re important to me, especially those of you walking through your first 12 months without your beloved.

In asking the Lord what his desire was for the words in this Thanksgiving post, I could  just hear him say, “Comfort those who are grieving. By my Spirit, give them something to be thankful for.”

I wasn’t sure how best to do that, but as is always true with God, he showed me. “Remember the devotional you read yesterday? That message will bring them comfort.”

Though I didn’t remember, when I looked back I saw the reason he wanted me to use it. The topic was sorrow and joy, and I knew each of us could benefit from reading it tonight. Spurgeon began by reminding us of an intensely sad situation in the Bible. After Jesus had been killed, his disciples felt abandoned and were crushed with disappointment. Deep in sorrow, they wondered how they could possibly go on without him.

And then! Their beloved teacher and mentor reappeared, very much alive and back “on duty” as the one they’d become so attached to and loved so dearly. Their joy overflowed!

Spurgeon then moves from that story to sorrowful people today:

“All the sorrows of saints* shall be thus transmuted, even the worst of them, which look as if they must forever remain fountains of bitterness. Then the more sorrow, the more joy. If we have loads of sorrow, then the Lord’s power will turn them into tons of joy. Then the bitterer the trouble, the sweeter the pleasure.

“The swinging of the pendulum far to the left will cause it to go all the farther to the right. The remembrances of grief shall heighten the flavor of the delight. We shall set the one in contrast with the other, and the brilliance of the diamond shall be the more clearly seen because of the black foil behind it.

“Come, my heart, cheer up! In a little while I shall be as glad as I am now gloomy. Jesus tells me that by a heavenly alchemy my sorrow shall be turned into joy. I do not see how it is to be, but I believe it, and I begin to sing by way of anticipation.” **

So whether you’re a widow whose heart is full of sadness or a non-widow dealing with struggles of another kind, these words are a gift of comfort from the Father to you. And in the dark of night, if you haven’t thought of a single thing to be thankful for, now you have one: God’s promise of better days ahead.

Spurgeon may have been talking about our joy-filled life in the hereafter, but from my own grief experience I can tell you it’s a promise God applies in this world, too.

“Your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” (John 16:20)

*Spurgeon refers to all Christians as “saints”.   **Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith, p. 331.