Singing the songs and hymns and spiritual songs has always been a joy to my soul. There is something special about lifting up our voices in praise to the Almighty God. It is when my soul is at its lowest elb that I find such comfort in singing or at least allowing the hymns to flood my soul.

It is such a hymn as “Mixtures OF JOY AND SORROW” that reminds me of what families face when they lose someone they love. How often we forget of how the Lord is touched by these same events in the lives of His children. Notice closely what the psalmist David said in Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” The Lord feels our sorrows as we realize the reality of no longer being around kinsmen of this world, yet may we remember that He rejoices as His children come home to Paradise to sing praises to His name forevermore.

It has been said many times by families and pastors alike; while we know that our loved one is now rejoicing in Paradise, we are saddened by the lack of their presence. We are yet comforted with joy in knowing that we “...sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (I Thessalonians 4:13). Solomon, in Ecclesiastes 7:1, said it is better on “...the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” Why is this? Simply because there is no more pain, suffering, disappointments, or sadness; rather joy and happiness in praising our Lord.
Notice closely the words of “Mixture Of Joy And Sorrow” as recorded on page 255 of the Old School Hymnal:

“Mixtures of joy and sorrow,
I daily do pass through.
Sometime I’m in the valley,

And sinking down with woe;
Some times I am exalted,
On eagle’s wings I fly;
I rise above my troubles,
And hope to reach the sky.”

Paul expressed it well in his writings to both the church at Ephesus and Colossae. Singing with grace in our hearts while we make melody to the Lord helps us to daily deal with the mixtures of joy and sorrow we face on a regular basis. In Ephesians 5:19 he wrote, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;...” and then in Colossians 3:16 he said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

May the grace and mercy of our Lord be with you this day if you have lost someone to death, or, are just separated from their presence for awhile. The Lord can comfort in any and all situations that come our way. Praise be to His Holy Name.