Sow in tears, reap with joy
When you have almost nothing left, it’s tempting to hold tight to the little you do have. Maybe it’s time, energy, or hope. Maybe it’s something that used to feel abundant but now feels scarce.
I think about Psalm 126:5-6:
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
I picture a farmer in a season of drought. His hands hold only a few grains of wheat—barely enough to feed his family. He could grind them into a small loaf and give up. Or he could plant them in dry ground, not knowing if rain will come but putting his trust in the small cloud, the size of a man’s hand, in the distance (1 Kings 18:44).
Faith often looks like that—pressing something small and costly into uncertain soil. We don’t get to see the outcome right away. But somehow, through dust, time, and unseen work beneath the surface, life starts again.
If you’re in that space—tired, unsure, wondering if it’s worth planting—don’t underestimate what can grow from what’s still in your hand.
Sometimes faith just means taking the next small step, trusting that what you plant today will matter more than you can see right now.
Until next time,
©2025 Katherine Walden
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