Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with an encouraging word about your tears.
And the word comes from Psalm 126 where it says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” Wow! Now that is quite a promise! Think of it. This Scripture is saying that when you sow in tears, you’ll see a marvelous and abundant return on your investment. "But," you may be thinking, "When have I ever gone out weeping, carrying seed to sow?"
Well, I have an answer for that, because I have done it many times. There have been times when the pain in my lower back and hip has me in tears, but I know that is the best, the most prime time to pray. I know that my tears have a way of watering my prayers for others, or for our ministry at Joni and Friends. My tears attach importance to the things that I'm praying about. And I know God sees that; He recognizes that! And there’s nothing God loves more than when we pray or worship or sing or intercede sacrificially (you know, when it hurts, when it costs you something, when you’d really rather throw in the towel, but instead, you persevere and pursue your spiritual objective). Prayers like that? Watered with our tears? They have power with God! And the same is true for you.
If you have ever reached through an invisible wall of pain to embrace God with willful thanks, you have sown in tears. If you've ever been rejected by a dear one and yet turned the other cheek in love, you have sown in tears. If you have patiently endured physical affliction, or responded in love through a difficult marriage, then Psalm 126:5-6 is exactly what you are doing — you’re sowing in tears.
Think of the pain young Elisabeth Elliot must have felt as this missionary continued to serve to the very South American Indians who had murdered her husband! Truly, she sowed the seed of God's Word in tears, but oh, the songs of joy that ring from the millions who have been touched by her testimony.
Friend, when you hurt physically or emotionally, it's hard to muster a patient or godly response. Pain has a way of screaming for our undivided attention. But when you either offer a sacrifice of praise to God in the midst of your hurt, or respond in faith to a heartbreak or hardship, you are sowing in tears. Take heart, because God says that those painful obediences through small and great challenges will ultimately result in a great harvest. One day (yes, perhaps even on this side of eternity), God will reward you with sheaves of joy -- all because you were faithful through tears. So today, thank God for the help and hope He offers you through the hurt, and when tears sometimes blind your path, keep faith with the Lord. Remember that He will atone for every tear, every pain, every ounce of heartache that peppers and salts your prayers, your witness, your testimony and your personal ministry. And if you need a little help, I want to send you my booklet “Bible Promises for Hope and Courage” — it’s filled with wonderful reminders from God's Word; reminders that instill courage and strength into weak and weary heart. So please, contact me today on my radio page at joniandfriends.org and ask for your free copy of “Bible Promises for Hope and Courage.” Then, push through the tears and embrace God with willful thanks — the joy that He will return to you and the abundant harvest of blessing will be more than worth it all!
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