Will Your Laments Yield Rejoicing in the Harvest?

Majority of us who have gardened or farmed most likely have not wept while planting seeds. In fact, it’s usually an exciting time and one filled with great anticipation for the harvest to come.

We choose which plants to grow, how much space will be needed, the soil and fertilizers to use, etc.

The beginnings are fairly predictable. It’s after the seeds have been planted that gets outside of your control. You pray for the Lord’s favour with the balance of sun and rain to nourish the ground, and know that it is ultimately Him that will cause the plant to grow and prosper for harvest.

While at my church’s women’s Bible study Wednesday night, a pastor shared a story he once heard from a missionary regarding Psalm 126:5-6:

“Those who sow in tears
will reap with shouts of joy.
Though one goes along weeping,
carrying the bag of seed,
he will surely come back with shouts of joy,
carrying his sheaves.”

Psalm 126

The missionary grew up on a farm in the United States. He, along with others, would drive their John Deere tractors to plant their seeds like they did faithfully each year. He said he never saw a farmer weep while sowing his fields and wondered what this passage could mean. Why would any farmer weep during planting season?

As an adult, the Lord called this man to serve as a missionary in Africa. From August to October, the African people experienced their harvest season. They would enjoy two meals a day, and sleep with full bellies. There was a buzz of excitement all around. Everyone rejoiced!

As the harvest dwindled later in the season, the people would cut back to one meal a day and spread out their portions as much as possible.

By March, they were selling whatever they could to survive and bring in a little food here and there. This missionary would hear babies cry in the night for their mother’s milk, because she wasn’t able to eat enough herself to produce adequate milk to satiate her baby’s needs.

He remembered one April in particular when a little boy excitedly approached his father who was with the missionary. “Papa, come see! I found a bag in the barn with food in it! Please give it to Mama so we can make something with it and eat!”

The father explained to his son that they couldn’t use what was in that bag because that was the last bit of seed they had to plant, so they could hope for another harvest. If they ate the seed that was in that bag, they would have nothing left for the future.

When May came, the father did something that seemed so counterproductive. He took that last bag of seed his family had and dumped it on the ground. While weeping, he planted all they had left in hopes that God would provide another year’s harvest for them.

It was at this point, that the missionary understood Psalm 126. There are people who weep when they sow, uncertain of what the future will bring, but with hope deep down that they will one day rejoice in the harvest.

Maybe you haven’t wept while physically planting seeds. Let me ask you this, have you ever lamented while sowing spiritual seeds for Jesus?

Perhaps you’re someone weeping, hoping someday you’ll:

– See your child follow Jesus

– Witness a family member come back to Christ

– Experience others you’ve shared the gospel with countless times come to Christ

– Know that everything you tried to do for the Lord while limited due to illness or any other factor made an impact for Him and others

– See your God given assignment come to be

– Hold the baby/child you’ve desperately prayed for

– Celebrate someone you’ve been discipling to thirst for a deeper relationship with Jesus and apply what he/she has been learning

There are countless things you and I have wept over through the years. No matter our current circumstances, we can trust the Lord’s promise to bring the harvest. Heaven will be such an incredible, permanent harvest, where our heart’s desires and tears of sorrow will be dried with eternal joy.

So, until the lasting harvest comes, let’s continue to praise the Lord in our lament, like the words of Rend Collective’s song, Hallelujah Anyway:

“I’ll find a way to praise You
From the bottom of my broken heart
‘Cause I think I’d rather strike a match than curse the dark
Yeah, I’ll find a way to thank You
Though the bitterness is real and hard
‘Cause I’d rather take a chance on hope than fall apart

I don’t think I’m ready to surrender to the dark, no

Even if my daylight never dawns
Even if my breakthrough never comes
Even if I’ll fight to bring You praise
Even if my dreams fall to the ground
Even if I’m lost, I know I’m found
Even if my heart will somehow say
Hallelujah anyway

Yeah, I hear a hymn of triumph
In thе wilderness of my lament
In thе lowlands or the mountain tops, I won’t forget
All that goodness that You have shown me
The promises that You have kept
There’s better days on the horizon up ahead

Even if my daylight never dawns
Even if my breakthrough never comes
Even if I’ll fight to bring You praise, oh-oh-oh
Even if my dreams fall to the ground
Even if I’m lost, I know I’m found
Even if my heart will somehow say
Hallelujah anyway

All c’mon, now
Let it rise
Let it rise
In the dark or the light
Oh, my soul stand and fight
If you got a song to sing let it rise

Let it rise
Let it rise
In the dark or the light
Oh, my soul stand and fight
If you got a song to sing let it rise

Even if my daylight never dawns
Even if my breakthrough never comes
Even if I’ll fight to bring You praise, oh-oh-oh
Even if my dreams fall to the ground
Even if I’m lost, I know I’m found
Even if my heart will somehow say
Hallelujah anyway
Hallelujah anyway (oh, oh, oh)”

Hallelujah Anyways by Rend Collective

Songwriters: Matt Maher / Chris Llewellyn / Gareth Gilkeson