Sowing With Tears, Reaping With Joy

This morning, in my time with Jesus, I read, “Those who go out weeping, carrying seeds to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them” (Psalm 126:6). This biblical principle of sowing and reaping is core to our spiritual growth. Yet, we might be confused by the tears part. Why with tears? Why can’t we plant seeds with just happiness?

I know many right now are walking through difficult seasons of planting with tears:

• Those without a job who are sowing applications that seemingly go nowhere.
  
• Those with special needs children who plant every day with tears, and yet there’s no tangible change.
  
• Those who are seeking to reconcile troubled relationships, but there’s no peace in sight.
  
• Those seeking to find healing and wholeness when the journey feels unbearable.
  

All of these friends are sowing with tears. Why are their tears important? As I was thinking about this, I was reminded of Jesus’s words: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Tucked in these profound words of Jesus is a principle for powerful growth. Tears are a vital part of planting seeds. Often, we undervalue them, wishing our weeping away. However, in our weeping, we become more like Jesus, who Himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus and in the garden before facing the cross.

I believe our weeping is part of what tenderizes the soil of our hearts so that the Holy Spirit can bring forth the fruit in our lives that He desires. But the weeping alone is not enough. Even in our weeping, we must plant seeds. Planting seeds while weeping is not easy, but the hard work pays off in the harvest we reap.

In your weeping, sow these seeds:

Sow Seeds of Faith – If you want your faith to grow and increase, sow some spiritual practices into your life. Even when life is falling apart, you need spiritual practices that you can lean into. For example, read your Bible and pray. (You don’t have to read for hours—even a few minutes of focusing on a scripture verse will begin to plant more faith in your life.) Determine in your mind that whatever God calls you to do, you will obey, and believe that He will empower you. Take a risk. For example, if you sense God calling you to share Jesus with your neighbor, don’t second-guess. Step up to the challenge, sow a seed of faith, and do it.

Sow Seeds of Generosity – Your generosity can go a long way in someone’s life. It’s easy to become self-focused when life feels hard. Don’t give in to that. Instead, even when life feels challenging, sow seeds of generosity. You don’t have to give millions. Every little seed of giving can change someone’s life. You may never see the full harvest of your giving, but God sees, and He honors generosity.

Sow Seeds of Personal Growth – For example, invest in coaching or personal counseling. Will there be weeping in those settings? Often, yes! Trust me, I know. But the promise is there: those who sow with weeping will reap the harvest of joy. I don’t know how fast it will come. But I do know this—if you put the effort in, you will reap the harvest. Speak God’s promises over your life. When you go to counseling or coaching, remind yourself you are taking another positive step toward the harvest of joy.

Be patient as you grow. Most personal growth takes hard work over a period of time. Be consistent and don’t give up. In God’s perfect timing, the work you put in now will pay off later, and you’ll reap the harvest of what you’ve sown. God’s timetable is different than ours. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You that You have called me to the seed principle. In my weeping, empower me to remember that the harvest of joy will come. Lead me as I consider areas of personal and spiritual growth. Help me not to simply pray about these growth issues but to take action and sow seeds in cooperation with You, so that I can enjoy the harvest of living a fulfilled life that glorifies You.

This week on The Connected Mom Podcast! We’re talking with Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski about sports! Oh, you don’t want to miss this one if your kids or grandkids are in sports! They are the authors of Away Game: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Navigating Sports. 

Praise! I had the opportunity to speak in Myrtle Beach this past Thursday, and God did so much! Oh, how I praise Him! I spoke about the story of Ruth, shared in Cultivating Deeper Connections In A Lonely World. If you haven’t already shared a review on Amazon, I would love it if you would. Those little reviews truly help.