5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Tonight there was a party in our house. A pizza party complete with soda and breadsticks. The occasion? All three kids who are in school brought home great grades. Fantastic grades. For the first time since our life changed drastically, when they lost their father to a prison sentence and a divorce, their grades were excellent.
Everyone’s grades, except for my youngest girl, slipped greatly in the ensuing months. My oldest son was barely passing. My youngest son got mediocre grades when he normally got all A’s and an occasional B. My oldest daughter (now graduated) saw her grades slip dramatically as well, even getting an F in her yearbook class, of all things.
But their grades today were tremendous. Absolutely tremendous.
Why am I sharing all of this with you? Because it represents for our family another step toward normalcy. A new normal; a different normal; yes. But normal nonetheless.
I came across this Psalm today, Psalm 126. Particularly verses 5 and 6. And I had to think about it for quite awhile; really think about the meaning. The Psalm is a Psalm of joy. God has restored the fortunes of Zion. Their response was one of joy and laughter. Those around them proclaimed that God had done great deeds for them. And then it goes into verse 5 and 6.
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy. He who goes out weeping bearing the seed for sowing shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
What does it mean that those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy?
I think John Piper says it best:
“So here’s the lesson: When there are simple, straightforward jobs to be done, and you are full of sadness, and tears are flowing easily, go ahead and do the jobs with tears. Be realistic. Say to your tears: ‘Tears, I feel you. You make me want to quit life. But there is a field to be sown (dishes to be washed, car to be fixed, sermon to be written). I know you will wet my face several times today, but I have work to do and you will just have to go with me. I intend to take the bag of seeds and sow. If you come along then you will just have to wet the rows.”
I am finding this to be truth in my life. When life first fell apart, there were honestly days that I didn’t think I could get out of bed. And there were days when I stayed there long past what I should have. But there have also been days, thanks to the grace of God, that I have just done the next thing. A load of laundry. A child to chauffeur to a school function. A floor to sweep. And when I say that it was only by the grace of God, I mean that to the fullest. Sometimes I had to be pushed. Pushed to get outside and walk. There weren’t often tears, though there were sometimes. More often, instead of tears there was simply despair and hopelessness. A futility.
The same went for my kids. They struggled with school. They struggled to understand. But they kept putting one foot in front of the other, also by the merciful grace of God. And tonight, we-as a family-are reaping shouts of joy over normal school grades.
Yes, this may seem like a small thing. But it’s not. It’s huge. It’s a huge thing that we celebrated tonight; a sense of accomplishment. We set out this school year to get back on track academically and it’s happening. It’s happening. And I couldn’t be more proud.
There are many things in my life that I wish would disappear or that I could erase, that never would have happened. And there are many things that I wish were so different. So very different. And yet…..
I am thankful. I am thankful for this life that God has given me. Am I thankful for the hard things that have happened? I’d have to say honestly no. I so would prefer that they had never happened, that I had never known darkness, evil or loss. But even so, I would not change for one instant how God has used them to shape my life, how He has pursued me, and how by His grace He has strengthened me, sustained me, provided for our family, and continues to lead us forward.
There are still hard days. There are still days when all I know to do, is to do the next thing. To keep putting one foot in front of the other. But I have to trust that this Psalm is truth, that when the despair threatens to overcome me and drown me, God will maintain His hold on my life and shouts of joy will come again.
GOD bless you shelly duffer & yr family
I have the privilege of leading a ladies Bible study at my church. Our current study is about joy and this week’s lesson (Turning Sorrow to Joy) includes a reference to Psalm 126:6. As I was reading this chapter, commentaries, and searching for God would have me to share, I came across your post. I will definitely share this with the ladies in our study group. I feel it will be very encouraging to all and, in particular, to some who I know are struggling right now. Thank you for sharing your heart!
Hi Kathy!
Thank you so much for reaching out—it was encouraging to read your note! Much love and blessings to you, as your teach, and to the ladies in your Bible Study! Praying that you will each deeply know joy and peace, even in the midst of the sorrows and griefs that this life contains from time to time! Love, S
God bless you shelly duffer & yr family…
Dear Shelly
Thank you so much for your touching testimony I have been facing difficulty after difficulty but this psalm makes it feel much better because I know that although I sow in tears I will reap in joy. I pray God will intervene in my relationship as impossible as it seems to my sight. I am deeply touched by your story.
Emma in South Africa
Hello Emma!
Thank you so much for your note. I prayed for you this morning, and will continue to do so–that God will intervene. Sometimes the things of this life seem so hopeless; but God never abandons us, even when griefs and sorrows threaten to overwhelm. Blessings to you, dear friend and sister, S
Thank You so much, I really needed to hear from My Heavenly Father this morning. And through you Shelly, I just did. I have been going through Teary two months and I came across this Psalm, well the Holy Spirit led me to it and I am so very HAPPY He led me. Then He led me to study it, and that is when I found your inspirational uplifting story. I am so glad that there will be JOY, LAUGHTER, and SINGING after my sorrow. I will keep going and planting, ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER!!!!!!!!
Felicia—thank you so much for reading, and for sharing your thoughts with me! Praying that you truly are finding joy in the midst of hard things! Much love and blessings, Shelly
Thank you for sharing. I was so encouraged by your comment “new normal”. As we grow with Jesus we are always coming to new places in our life. Even though HE CHANGES NOT we do. And for myself it so often is thru difficult circumstances that my change comes.
Hi Sophia! So true–life is never stagnant or still, even if it may seem to be at times. And during those difficult times, it can seem so unsettled and we can feel so discombobulated. I’m sorry that I didn’t see your comment until today–I’ve been traveling for work much over the last few months. However, I just took a moment and prayed for you, that you are sensing His peace and are feeling settled in your soul. Thank you so much for reading and for reaching out. Blessings to you! ~ S
Saw this verse this morning while reading His Word. Something spoke to me that there were nuggets in this. Googled for a devotional and after a few theological empty ones, came across yours. And I knew that I met someone who has experienced the love of her Father. Thank you sharing with the rest of us on the journey of life.
Thank you, so much, for reading and commenting! So grateful. Truly God has been so kind to me, even in the hard things. Blessings to you. Grateful–S
Hi Shelly, thank you for sharing your story. My children and I had a tough year as well and this verse has helped me out too. Time heals and the pain doesn’t stay there forever. God has a reason for everything. He can make good out of bad. He never leaves us or forsakes us. If we hold onto him, have faith, keep putting one foot in front of the other, the joy always comes. It might take awhile but it comes. Every single day means so much more to us than it did before the loss and we try even more now to make a difference while we are here for God, showing his love to others.
God bless,
Stacy
Thank you,. Stacy! Yes–a time to rest and grieve is important, but equally important is the need to move forward, even when it is painful. Joy always comes; yes—and is even in the hard things, though we may not sense it. Blessings to you and your kids–have a beautiful Christmas! Peace, Shelly
My family is at cross roads right now,no jobs for my husband and I,sometimes it feels like God is not awake 2 our predicament. I am trusting in psalms 126:5-6 that joy will surely reign.
Noel…thank you so much for writing and sharing this grief. Absolutely I understand that experience of wondering if God truly sees or knows–or cares!–about the hard reality of life. Often, He has seemed so silent. When those moments come, I try to preach Exodus 2:24-25 to my soul: “24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.”
The God who remembered His covenant to His people, heard their groaning, He saw them, and He knew their grief. And, He acted, when it was time in His sovereignty to act. And we, too, are in covenant with Him. He sees, and knows–even when He seems so very far away, or so very silent.
Psalm 126:5-6 can be tough scriptures to hold on to in hope, when faced with joblessness, or sickness, or unthinkable tragedies, or depression. So hard. But hold on to them, we must, for they are truth. I will pray for you tonight–that you will know that God sees you and your family, and that He knows. And that He loves you very much, and that joy will reign–regardless of the day-to-day circumstances of life. ~S
“But even so, I would not change for one instant how God has used them to shape my life”
Gold. Right. There.