Isaiah 15 describes the destruction of Moab and its inhabitants. In a single night cities will be leveled, destroyed.

We’re told the people will mourn. It will be the wrong kind of mourning. They will mourn the loss of the things they loved instead of mourning their sin that brought on the destruction.

Their warriors will fear, but it will be the wrong kind of fear. The right kind of fear drives us to God. They don’t turn to Him in repentance and humility.

Yet, in all this, God’s response is not, “You’re getting what you deserve.” He doesn’t enjoy them being punished. God desires all to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. He is merciful and compassionate. He desires mercy and takes no delight in the death of the wicked. I hope you can recognize all those statements as Scripture. You can look them up if you don’t know the references.

God’s response to their mourning and fear, even though they aren’t turning to Him, is this: “My heart weeps for Moab.” (That’s the NLT translation.)

God is crying.

I don’t want to make God cry. I want to bring Him pleasure. I want Him to marvel at my great faith, not my great lack of faith and refusal to turn to Him.

Are there losses in your life that you mourn, losses that were really for your good? If something was taken out of your life, you should consider it as being for your ultimate good since the Lord orchestrated it out of your life. Can you look to Him instead of looking to your loss?

That’s always the key, looking to Him. Don’t see the bad, the scary, the sin, the temptation, the offense, the fault, the lack, the frustration. See Jesus! He’s much better looking. Looking up and seeing His smile will bring a smile to the face that would be tearful and fearful looking any other direction.

Make Him smile, not weep.