Talk to Your Tears

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6) 
 
There is nothing sad about sowing seed. It takes no more work than reaping. The days can be beautiful. There can be great hope of harvest. 
 
Yet the psalm speaks of sowing “in tears.” It says that someone “goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed.” So, why are they weeping? 
 
I think the reason is not that sowing is sad, or that sowing is hard. I think the reason has nothing to do with sowing. Sowing is simply the work that has to be done, even when there are things in life that make us cry. 
 
The crops won’t wait while we finish our grief or solve all our problems. If we are going to eat next winter, we must get out in the field and sow the seed, whether we are crying or not. 
 
If you do that, the promise of the psalm is that you will “come again with rejoicing.” You will “doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his (your) sheaves with him (you).” Not because the tears of sowing produce the joy of reaping, but because the sheer sowing produces the reaping, and you need to remember this even when your tears tempt you to give up sowing. 
 
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).” 
 
Then say, on the basis of God’s word, “Tears, I know that you will not stay forever. The very fact that I just do my work (tears and all) will in the end bring a harvest of blessing. So, go ahead and flow if you must. But I believe — though I do not yet see it or feel it fully — I believe that the simple work of my sowing will bring sheaves of harvest. And my tears will be turned to joy.” 
 
I needed to be reminded of this today. I pray it encourages someone today to rise, put your hand to the plow, even with tears, and say with confidence, my tears will be turned to joy and keep moving forward. Be encouraged today. He is always faithful. What an incredible father He is.  
 
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord! 
 
Today’s Reading is Psalms 126:5