Sowing In Tears

It is early as I write this morning. The house is quiet. The sun has yet to rise for this new day. I had a disturbing dream last night that I had gone to a C-section delivery. The mom was asleep and I did all I was to do for the baby but I forgot to footprint and band him. I wandered aimlessly around the hospital trying to figure out which of the many moms this baby could possibly belong to. Could this dream have come about from the turmoil of yesterday? I sat in my chair and thought about the hurt and tears of my day yesterday. I quietly asked God to remind me of His new mercies this morning.
Then I checked my e-mail. This is the first thing that popped onto the screen!

Sowing In Tears
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, February 09 2009

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." - Psalm 126:5

Psalm 126 describes an interesting process that goes against our natural tendencies when we are taken into a difficult period in our lives. Whenever we are hurled into a crisis that brings tears, our tendency is to retreat or recoil in fear and hurt. However, there is a better way that God tells us to handle such times of travail.

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. "He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him" (Ps. 126:5-6). God is telling us that if we will do what is unnatural for us in these circumstances, He will make sure that what we sow in tears will return in joy. This is one of the most important lessons I have learned when faced with difficult circumstances. Rather than sit back and allow self-pity and discouragement to consume us, we should plant seed during this time. Reach out to a person who needs a friend. Invest in the life of another. See where you can be a blessing to someone. Give of yourself.

The psalmist acknowledges that we are doing this while we are in our pain. However, during this time we are to sow seed. That seed will return to us in another form. Here is what will happen when we do this. "He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." We will receive joy and fruit from the seed that we plant during this time. Sheaves represent the fruit of a harvest. We will actually get a harvest from this seed.

"You must not let the circumstances destroy you! Too many in the Kingdom are counting on you to come through this because of the calling on your life!" Those were the words spoken to me by a friend one time when personal circumstance was threatening to destroy me emotionally. This person saw what God was doing and the fruit that God wanted to bring from these circumstances. Sometimes we need others around us to push us through the difficult times. If you find yourself in a difficult place today, see where you can sow some seed. Soon you will be reaping songs of joy.

On this new morning I cry tears of joy, for my God knows and understands my hurts. And He will always be faithful to speak to me if I will just turn my eyes towards Him.

Great is Thy Faithfulness!!