Do it, even if in tears

 “Bethink thee of something that thou oughtest to do, and go to do it, if it be but the sweeping of a room, or the preparing of a meal, or a visit to a friend. Heed not thy feelings: Do thy work.” - George MacDonald

May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6)

This fits today. I have spiritual seeds to sow. The tears are not as literal now as two days ago, but the task is still before me. I am not certain the soil is ready for the seeds. Jesus told of various attitudes of receptivity and I rather suspect the soil that is on my heart will be hard, definitely rocky and even determined to reject whatever I say, even if it was something much less vital, like a story about a new bakery or an old pet cat.

Some people are immune to ideas contrary to their own because the idea contradicts their values and makes them feel criticized, as if being told they are not acceptable as is.

Piper simplifies this lesson by saying “When there are simple, straightforward jobs to be done, and you are full of sadness and the tears are flowing easily, go ahead and do the jobs with tears. Be realistic. Say to your tears: ‘Tears, I feel you. You make me want to quit life, but there is a field to be sown (dishes to be washed, a car to be fixed, a sermon to be written). I know you will wet my face several times today, but I have work to do and you will just have to go with me. I intend to take the bag of seeds and sow. If you come along, then you will just have to wet the rows.’”

I wish my seed-sowing was a mere task like washing dishes or fixing a car or even writing this, but it more involved. The tears came when seeing a need and the Lord used them to prompt in me fervent prayer. I am hearing Him say to “sow in tears” and not allow those tears to stop me from trusting His power to use what I say to produce a harvest.

PRAY: Jesus, You promised. I trust You. It seems impossible to see a harvest in this, yet You are clear about nothing being too hard for You. Tears or joy, I cannot imagine how You plan to bring any good out of this. Just help me be obedient and filled with faith that the simple work of my sowing will bring sheaves of harvest, and all tears will be turned to joy.

Grace Deeply Needed

 

Yesterday was a time of discovery and great heartbreaking disappointment. We got a first hand statement of bitterness and deep anger of a person against a parent. Our prayers afterwards did not erase the sorrow, which was not the reason for praying anyway. The rift is so deep that it seems impossible for even God to bring reconciliation and forgiveness. I don’t often cry myself to sleep.

Piper’s reading for today begins with this:

May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6)

He points out that there is nothing sad about sowing seed. It takes no more work than reaping. The days can be beautiful. There can be great hope of harvest. Yet Psalm 126 speaks of “sowing in tears.” It says that someone “goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing.” Why is he weeping?

The reasons could be many but the gist of this passage is that I am not to let sorrow or any other emotion or event in my life stop me from “speaking the truth in love” to whoever needs to hear it, even to the person whose outburst put such anguish in my heart. This psalm teaches the tough truth that there is work to be done whether I am emotionally up for it or not, and it is good for me to do it. Otherwise there will be no harvest.

PRAY: Jesus, the pain of this sadness is mind-numbing and filling my thoughts with jumble. Also thinking why nothing I can say will be effective or appropriate or even heard, let alone helpful. This is a description of my weakness? Or is it doubt in Your ability to use my weakness as an opportunity for Your strength to shine? All I can think is that I need to be filled with Your Spirit and the confidence to speak whatever You put on my heart, or the confidence to keep my mouth shut  — if that is what You ask me to do.