TEARS TO CHEERS

They who SOW in TEARS shall REAP IN JOY – Psalm 126:5 (NKJV)

Is there a meeting point between TEARS and JOY? People sometimes talk of shedding “tears of joy”! Is there any value to tears? Perhaps tears reflect our honest humanity. Some scientists even suggest that for the most part, people who cry are happier and healthier; and that healthy people view tears differently than unhealthy people. The former view tears as useful and positive; the latter see them as worthless or even humiliating. Genuine tears can actually be therapeutic. They may help to reduce tension, remove toxins, and increase the body’s ability to heal itself.

Our loving Father-God cares when we hurt. Our Saviour feels our pains (Heb.4:15). He wants us to be real and to sow in tears, when the need arises, so that we may reap in joy. God sees and responds to our tears – authentic, prayerful tears that gush from the depth of our souls; not toxic tears of regret or torture. The all-powerful Lord turned the ugliness of the cross into a spectacle of eternal beauty. He will do the same with the pain of this world. Our eternal Father specializes in wiping away tears and putting you back together again, if you’ll allow him.

Tears can mark the beginning of a JOURNEY of JOY. The journey begins inside of us. Sometimes it takes tears to pave the way. As important as tears are however, we are NOT instructed to SOW TEARS, but to SOW IN TEARS. Tears are not meant to be the seeds we sow. The Bible says: “the SEED is the WORD of God” (Lk.8:11). Whatever seeds would produce the harvest of Joy in our lives must be Word-based seeds that we’ll nurture just like gardens. The question is: What kinds of seed can we sow? We’ll enter into that meditation tomorrow by His grace. May He Who turns tears into cheers bless you on this journey of joy!