A Harvest of Joy

A friend texted me some scriptures, one of them was, “Those who plant in tears will harvest shouts of joy” Psalm 126:5 NLT.

This got me thinking: what causes someone to harvest shouts of joy?

I am currently in a season of my life where I feel like all I have been sowing is tears. I find myself asking, when Lord, when is the end? When will all the tears stop? When will I see a harvest of shouts of joy?

We all have experienced these seasons. Where it feels as if one bad thing after another keeps happening. Through tear-filled eyes, it can be hard to hope and see an end. It’s hard to picture yourself in a season of harvesting shouts of joy because of all the tears of sorrow.

But it occurred to me that maybe I am in the harvest season of shouts of joy and just not seeing it. Perhaps the shouts of joy don’t come with some answered prayer, the healing I’ve been believing God for, or my circumstances changing. Is it possible that joy is a choice and in the midst of tears I can choose to still sing shouts of joy?

When I choose to surrender my outcome of things to the One who gave His very life for mine and I look beyond my circumstances, I see Jesus holding me close and Holy Spirit comforting me. I see my Father reminding me He is still good and still God. My tears begin to have a new meaning and purpose when surrendered to my Savior.

Shouts of joy begin to rise up. Sometimes it’s a whisper or a soft shout. Other times I’m shouting as loud as I can. But I now have shouts of joy in exchange for my tears of sorrow.

If you find yourself in a season where you feel like all you’re doing is planting in tears, I encourage you to get close with Jesus. Take a moment to step outside of your circumstances, and to look to the only One who can give you a reason to expect a harvest of shouts of joy. Look to the One who relieves heavy burdens and allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength.