All Dressed Up!

I am a comfort dresser. I need to touch fabric when I shop. I despise nylons, as well as ill-fitting shoes. Tags on the back of shirts have to go. Pants can be snug, but not confining. As I get older, dressing in layers is a thermostatic must! My preferred outfit is comfy tights, soft t-shirt and cozy flannel. Quite the picture, isn’t it?!

I have noticed that the Bible sometimes refers to people putting on sackcloth. This fabric was rough and coarse, and was commonly used to make, well...sacks! In various places in the Bible, people wear sackcloth when mourning, as a sign of grief. Sometimes it signifies self-humiliation. It certainly doesn’t sound very comfy, physically or emotionally!

I wonder….what does it look like to wear sackcloth today?

Bright orange jumpsuits that single out those who have lost their freedom to crime.

Somber suits and dresses of respect and loss.

Tattered shoes denoting financial limits.

Extreme fashion of teenagers struggling to fit in.

The emotional armour of fears, responsibilities, and heavy heart.

Sleeves of self-harm scars.

Psalm 30:11 says:

You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy

Wait..what?! God trades our sackcloth for...joy? He clothes us with joy? With joy!! What does that even look like?

Psalm 30:12 continues...

That my heart may sing your praises and not be silent

Lord my God, I will praise you forever. (NIV)

I’ve heard it said the foundation garment makes or breaks the outfit. What if I put on God’s joy before anything else in the morning? What if I choose to allow God to remind me of who He is, who I am in Him, and allow Him to ground me in joy every day? Would my heart be lighter? Would my burden feel easier? Would my words reveal a profound hope?

I confess I struggle sometimes to maintain an attitude of joy, especially when circumstances are difficult. I tend to cling to the dull, abrasive sackcloth when soothing, radiant joy is being offered instead. Thank goodness the Lord is so very patient with me!

Help me, Lord, to remember that, if “the clothes maketh the man” (or woman!) I need to gratefully invite joy to dictate my life-style.