Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
Psalm 126:5-6
This is God’s promise to those who love Him. Isn’t it beautiful?
Though we all experience times of pain and sorrow, God will bring us through to the other side, where there are songs of joy. Our sorrows are not for nothing but will strengthen us if we lean on the LORD. It is hard work to sow tears of sadness. But as we sow those tears, there is the promise that someday soon we will garner a harvest of joy.
The verses above also refer to sorrow over our sin. Often it makes us grieve inwardly. But then, when God cleanses our hearts and forgives us, we do indeed sing songs of joy!
The beauty of God’s Word is that it always brings hope. There is a purpose in the pain. Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning! (Psalm 30:5) Days of laughter are yet ahead, though nights of crying presently plague you.
I can’t express it remotely as well as Charles Spurgeon, who says it like this, “He drops a seed and a tear, a seed and a tear, and so goes on his way. In his basket he has seed, which is precious to him, for he has little of it, and it is his hope for the next year. Each grain leaves his hand with anxious prayer that it may not be lost: he thinks little of himself, but much of his seed, and he eagerly asks, ‘Will it prosper? Shall I receive a reward for my labour?’ Yes…doubtless you will gather sheaves from your sowing.” (Spurgeon)
So God’s Word reminds us that seasons of sorrow will not last forever. During the days of weeping it may feel like forever. But it will not be so. God says so, and as believers, we can take great comfort in His promises.
Regardless if our sorrow results from our own sin, the sin of others, losing a loved one, financial losses, personal failures, too much or too little rain for the crops, or a host of other reasons, we must remember this difficulty will not last forever.
If we don’t sow, we can’t reap. We can look at it that way regarding tears and joy. There is a harvest promised after a soggy season of sorrow.
What kind of season are you walking through right now, dear reader?
Are your days filled with carefree laughter, or are you burdened with a load of care? Perhaps it is a mixture of both. For most of us, we would like to avoid the tears and plow forward in the joy-filled harvest of laughter! Isn’t that natural?
Are you able to laugh through the tears? Hold on in hope. Brighter days are ahead. And even if those bright days don’t come in this life, God will fill the future of those who believe with joy in the presence of our LORD forevermore.
Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
He will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Revelations 7:15-17.