September 21, 2023: Psalm 126:5 - Our Tears will be Replaced with Joy
“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” - Psalm 126:5
The psalmist wrote these words after the Lord God brought them, likely the Jewish captives who had been taken from their land in Judah and brought into captivity in Babylon for seventy years, back into their land of Israel. The psalmist was overjoyed with gladness and thankfulness that God had forgiven them and had restored them to their homeland that God Himself had given them long ago.
Just as this psalmist rejoiced, so do I rejoice, that God, through Jesus Christ, has forgiven me and brought me out of the Babylon of my wicked heart. For most of my life, I lived without knowing Jesus Christ, and I struggled with my sin, with my stubbornness, wanting to do things my way instead of His way. Though I had not been taken to a foreign land and held captive for many years, I was held captive to Satan by my sin. I was in bondage to my sin and I didn’t even realize it. After years of trying to fix all my problems and my family’s problems, it became too much, and I finally surrendered all to God, down on my knees in repentance to Him. When I did and I stood up, it literally felt like a 2,000-pound weight had been lifted off of my back, and it had, for God had taken my heavy burden. However, He didn’t take it until I was ready to give it to Him. He was always there, patiently waiting for me to do so, but never forcing me.
Though I live in a country, America, that has become like Babylon with its rejection of the one true God in order to worship false gods and embrace wicked and evil practices even known to mankind and creating those which no mind and soul owned by God could ever conceive, I know that one day, I, along with all my brothers and sisters all around the world, who put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation, will be brought into our true home land. I know that all the times when I have been mocked for my faith, for telling others of the saving power of Jesus Christ, for believing in the one true God and that His every word is true, when I have endured through painful relationships because I knew it was what God wanted me to do - to shine His light in the darkness even when it meant swallowing my pride - that one day, the tears that I have sown for my love of Jesus, will be replaced with an abundance of joy, a joy that the unbelieving world can never know. Oh, how His light shines in the dark, penetrating the shadows in the dark crevices that surround our lives as the unbelieving world grows darker and darker, gravitating to the one that promises them everything and delivers nothing, believing the lies of Satan. But God’s light will not be overcome by the darkness, ever. As the prophet Micah said:
“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bing me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.” (Micah 7:8-9)
As I continue on, pressing on, in this world, I have the promises of Jesus, including His promise of His redemption of all my sins and the promise of His light in my life:
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)
If I remain in the light of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, He will lead me to my true Home, where sin and sorrow are no more and will finally be replaced with joy, everlasting joy:
“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13)
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
“I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.'“ (Psalm 16:8-9) ✝️