By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Sow in Tears, Reap with Joy

“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.”
Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV)

Octoberfest in Mount Angel, Oregon is a time of happiness and joy and dancing, celebrating another successful harvest.  The harvest is a time of gladness for the abundant crops that have come in.  But when we sow the seed, harvest is a long way off, and there is no assurance that all will go well.  Will my attempts to plant come to fruition?

Perhaps this is a time in your life filled with tears.  Someone close to you may have died or is sick.  There may be conflict and hard feelings among family and friends.  The devil may be placing doubt and fear within you.  This may be a tearful time.

But in the midst of our weeping, Jesus comes to us.  He understands our tears and our fears and our doubt.  He knows our pain and our hurt and our discouragement.  And in the midst of our painful place, he asks us to trust him and plant seeds.  Seeds of faith and trust and hope in him.  Seeds of love and forgiveness and peace that he gives.  Seeds of mercy and Good News and open arms to those suffering.

Yes, this may be a time of sadness and tears in your life.  But it is in that broken, hurting place that we can sow seeds of faith and hope and love.  For if we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap in heavenly joy.  The one who goes out bearing the Lord Jesus in hard times will experience a great joy and a great harvest of souls when the time comes.

“Let us suffer here with Jesus And with patience bear our cross.
Joy will follow all our sadness; Where he is, there is no loss.
Though today we sow no laughter, We shall reap celestial joy;
All discomforts that annoy Shall give way to mirth hereafter.
Jesus, here I share your woe; Help me there your joy to know.”

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado