Joy Comes in the Morning

Claire Black: Welcome to True Girl, a podcast for girls and their moms. Together, we’ll explore God’s truth for us, one drive at a time.Buckle up! You’re about to grow closer to each other and closer to Jesus!

In this season we’re walking through Psalm 30 together as part of the Holy Girl Walk Scripture Memory Challenge! We do this twice a year, encouraging you to hide God’s Word in your heart. It’s super easy. You just walk and memorize each day. Hope you’ve been joining us to memorize all of Psalm 30, or at least verses 1–5.

Today, we’ve reached one of the most beautiful verses yet:

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

If you've ever cried yourself to sleep or wondered if things would ever feel okay again—this episode is for you. God’s Word promises that the night won’t last forever . . . and joy is on the way.

And guess what? Dannah Gresh has a very special surprise to share in this episode—so don’t go anywhere. She and Staci Rudolph got up very early this morning for their walk.

Here’s Episode 5: Joy Comes in the Morning! Here’s Staci.

Staci Rudolph: (Yawning) Dannah . . . the sun is barely up, girl. Psalm 30:5 says joy comes in the morning—not joy comes before the sun rises.

Dannah Gresh: I know it’s early, but trust me—it’s worth it. Something really special is happening back at the farm this morning, and we’ve got to finish our walk before it does.

Staci: Speaking of special, who’s this guy tagging along with us again?

Dannah: Ah, yes. That is Carl Epley. The black sheep of the family . . . literally.

Staci: He looks like someone forgot to finish knitting him. Keeps up well with Moose and Frankie though!

Dannah: He’s fast. He’s kind of a miracle. He’s half Black Nose Valais and half Babydoll sheep. I’ve always wanted one of each of them, but I can’t afford either. Basically, they’re a designer sheep. So the fact that his mama got loose and mingled with the other kind of sheep, let’s just say Carl Epley came from the clearance section of the barn.

Staci: Aww, I love him already.

Dannah: He’s a little awkward, a little unexpected, but totally loved.

Staci: Okay, but why the name Carl Epley?

Dannah: Long story, ask Farmer Bob.

Staci: Fair enough.

Dannah: You know, since we’re walking with the black sheep this morning, I think it's the perfect time to talk about something really important in Psalm 30:5. 

You know how people sometimes say someone is the black sheep of the family? 

Staci: That usually means they’re the one who’s different or doesn’t quite fit in. Maybe they made mistakes. Maybe they’ve wandered from what their family believes. Maybe they’ve even sinned a whole lot!

But in God’s family even the black sheep are wanted! I always felt drawn to the short parable in the Bible where Jesus says this: 

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away!

Dannah: Oh, I love that parable, Staci.Jesus doesn’t write us off. He chases after us, forgives us, and brings us back.

Staci: Exactly, but Psalm 30:5 starts with this:“His [God’s] anger lasts only a moment.”

Wait! God gets angry?

Dannah: He does. But not in the way people do. God’s anger is always perfect. It’s because He hates sin, not us, but the sin that hurts us and separates us from Him.

Staci: So when we mess up . . .?

Dannah: He feels it. But He doesn’t hold onto anger forever. He’s always chasing after us to bring us back, just like the shepherd in Matthew 18. When one little sheep runs away, he leaves the ninety-nine to find the one that’s lost.

Staci: Even the black sheep?

Dannah: Especially the black sheep!God doesn’t give up on us. Even when we’ve messed up, wandered off, or felt far from Him—His love keeps coming.

Staci: That is one place where I sure do understand J.O.Y.—Jesus Overcomes for You. He has overcome my sin in me again and again. Dannah, I remember one time where I felt like I was the lost sheep, and He was chasing me down. 

It was during middle school. I began hangin’ out with the wrong crowd and making some pretty bad decisions. My parents must have really been praying for me because I began to gravitate towards my friends at church rather than that group at school, and I’m so glad I did! God saved me from going down a pretty bad path with those friends. 

Dannah: I love that!

Psalm 30:5 says, “His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime.” That means God’s heart toward you isn’t angry—it’s full of love and grace. That’s why He comes for us when we sin.

Staci: And then there’s that last part of the verse. The part we’ve said a lot this season:“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Dannah: It’s such a beautiful promise. The night can feel long when you’re grieving or scared or confused. But morning always comes. God promises that your sadness won’t last forever—and that He’s working behind the scenes, even when you can’t see it yet.

Staci: Joy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect. It just means Jesus is with you—and that makes all the difference.

Dannah: And sometimes, joy shows up slowly, like the sunrise, just a little light at first. But if you wait, if you trust, it gets brighter and warmer and fuller.

Staci: Kinda like this magnificent sunrise!

Dannah: Kinda like that! Staci, hurry! I want us to see it at it’s best back on the farm! 

Staci: Well, okay, but we haven’t quoted Psalm 30:5 yet. We should do that.

Dannah & Staci: : "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."

Staci: That really is a beautiful promise. Joy DOES come!

Dannah: Yes, she does!

Staci: She?

Dannah: Come on, Staci! Hurry! We have to get back to the barn before it happens!

Staci: Before what happens? You’ve been so secretive all morning. Wait . . . oh wow!

Look at that sunrise. It’s gorgeous. The way the light’s stretching over the pastures, it’s like the whole farm is glowing.

Staci: Wait, is that a . . . Dannah! That’s a horse trailer!

Dannah: It is!

Pam: Hi.

Dannah: Staci, I want you to meet my new friend, Pam. 

Pam: Nice to meet you. Okay, do you want me to bring her out now?

Dannah: We’re ready! Barn is all set up. Can’t wait! Let me just get Carl Epley in his stall. And then, yes. You can bring her out!

Staci: Ohhh my goodness . . . Look at her!

Dannah: She’s an American Pinto. She has buckskin with soft spots and the sweetest little face I’ve ever seen.

Staci: Wait . . . Truett’s coming out!

Dannah: His head’s up! Yes, he’s curious. He sees her!

(Two loud whinnies!)

Staci: He’s calling for her!

Dannah: Yep. That’s the first time he’s done that since Trigg passed. Oh, he’s expressing how I feel, too!

Meet Stormy Joy. I named my new pony after Psalm 30—first the storm, then the joy!

Staci: Well, I guess Joy really did come in the morning!

Claire: Yes, it’s true! Dannah really did get a new pony. Stormy Joy is already bringing joy to the Gresh farm . . . and to Truett, who needed a new friend more than ever.

And you know what? Dannah loves sharing her animals with her True Girl friends. Every now and then, we host special gatherings at the farm. Just last weekend a group of moms and daughters came for the very first True Girl Pop-Up Party of the year. They got to meet Stormy Joy!

But don't worry. There are still three more Pop-Up Parties happening in 2025. We’ll be in Texas, Wisconsin, and up next . . . California—with an optional afternoon at the beach! Learn more about this whole mom-daughter weekend at MyTrueGirl.com. Come spend time with Dannah and Staci in person.

And be sure to join us again for the next season of the True Girl Podcast!

Until then, you or your mom could always become a True Girl subscriber. We ship mom-daughter discipleship tools right to your door every sixty days, including daily devos and conversation guides. It’s not too late to subscribe and receive the Holy Girl Walk box. It contains everything you need to walk through Psalm 30 together. Remember, it’s “Your Map to Joy!”

The True Girl Podcast is produced by Revive Our Hearts, calling women of all ages to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.

 

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