Psalm 126:3-6
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. 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.” Psalm 126:3-6 (NIV)
The site from the Lutheran Seminary called The Working Preacher thinks of Psalm 126 as a metaphor of a song of trust that proclaims God is the one who brings joy out of sorrow, laughter out of tears and good out of evil. Christian artist Kari Jobe's popular song, I am not Alone, has these beautiful lyrics – “Lord help me fight my every battle. I will not fear. I am not alone, you will go before me, you will never leave me. You are my strength, my defender. You bring healing to my soul.” The Bible commentary of Matthew Henry says that Psalm 126 may have been a prayer book used in pilgrimages to Jewish festivals.
God’s ability to restore our lives is beyond our comprehension. When in the depths of our challenges we may not think of our conditions as temporary, but in Ecclesiastes we read there is a time for everything and each of those seasons is temporary. The key work here is everything. As hard as it may seem, the Bible tells us that grief, pain, heartache, sorrow, or misfortune is not permanent. We can take comfort that they will come to an end. God’s presence offers us a peace that can sustain us. Holding on to that hope and seeking patience, trust, and a determined faith gives us a horizon of joy that can get us through. Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy.
God WILL bring good out of tragedy. That good may come in healing or in the joy of meeting our Savior. May we use Psalm 126 as inspiration in our own pilgrimage in life, each of us seeking our own joy while placing our trust in the Lord.
Questions for Reflection:
- When you are in a season of despair, where do you place your eyes? How is your faith demonstrated?
- When you discover how God was walking with you through tumultuous times, do you give him praise and thanks or do you move on and ask God to solve your next challenge?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Even in my broken moments I know you are at work. Even when my eyes are full of tears I know you are in control. Help my faith to not waiver in my times of need, but keep my eyes and heart focused on you. Amen
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