Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them (Psalm 126:6).
Our Father in heaven, as we sow into this broken and hurting world, our seeds are often wet with our tears. Tears for our families, our friends, our colleagues, our neighbors, our communities, our world.
Help us to carry on. Remind us over and over not to "become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).
Father, just as You comforted Your ancient people with the promise of a joyful and abundant harvest after all their hardship (Psalm 126:6), You comfort us with the promise that "even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together" (John 4:36).
You showed Your people that You are indeed the restorer of fortunes, the repairer of broken walls, the rebuilder of ancient ruins, and restorer of places long devasted—even cities that have been devastated for generations (Psalm 126:1, 4; Isaiah 58:12, 61:4).
Father, help me to sow among the thorns and thistles of "mortal ills"—grief, loss, pain, suffering, unbelief, emptiness, hopelessness, despair, and a million more conditions of the human heart—without fainting or becoming weary. Clear away the weeds of doubt, fear, and distrust; plow and break up the hard places; let seed spring up on fallow ground. Repair broken walls, restore places long devastated.
Lord, today, "list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record" (Psalm 56: 8)? Thank You for Your promise of reaping in due time. Help me to sow in abundance, and to return with songs of joy, carrying many sheaves.
We plough the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land;
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His love.
~ Matthias Claudius, pub. 1782
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