Harvest of Joy

 Restore our fortunes, Lord,

    as streams renew the desert.
 Those who plant in tears
    will harvest with shouts of joy.
 They weep as they go to plant their seed,
    but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Psalms 126:4-6

 

I am ready to sing. Let the melody of hope swim from my lips. I am ready to sing the song of victory. Gone is trepidation, gone is the fear. My voice may be shaky, lacking the pristine polish of perfect pitch, but I will still sing my song. For my song is an honest testimony of the goodness of God. So I sing. I sing boldly without any apology because I am rejoicing now. I am giving God thanks for keeping me, for giving me this song of liberty.

I am grateful that God crafts music out of hard seasons. He creates hope where there was desolation. He forms triumph from tribulation and places the crown of victory on the heads of his children. The battle was surging, yes, but God had a plan all along. He always wins. He always wins. So that means that we always win for He is on our side.

Those who plant in tears
    will harvest with shouts of joy.
 They weep as they go to plant their seed,
    but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Psalms 126:5-6

I am encouraged by these verses. Within them lies a promise, a promise of restoration and redemption. Despite the hard season of planting seeds, there is a promised season of harvest that will bring forth joy. I am encouraged to still plant the seed of obedience even when I am met with the overwhelming nature of despair. I am encouraged to still plant the seed of prayer when everything surrounding me seems to be crumbling. I am encouraged to still plant the seed of Bible Study even when God seems so far away. I am encouraged to still plant the seed of faith, even when I am experiencing doubt and fear.

Still, plant the seed even amid tears. Still plant, even if you can’t see the promise fulfilled right away.  God is not a liar. His promises are Yes and Amen. In the difficult seasons, let us ask God to give us the strength to still plant our seed. Let us not grow weary in well doing because in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up( Galatians 6:9)

 The harvest is promised to us.

 God honors obedience. There is rejoicing to be had as we return with the harvest. We will sing a new song, a song of hope, a song of joy.