Psalms 126:1-6 -- On Sowing in Tears and Reaping in Joy

"When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
Psalms 126:1-6


This is actually the entirety of the psalm, because I love how it works as a poem. The first line talks about the past when the Lord delivered his people, and how joyful that time was. This is compared to verse/line 4, asking that the Lord once again deliver his people, and predicting that tears now will turn to the same kind of rejoicing that was happening after the first deliverance.

One of the things that this brings to mind for me is that with God it isn't just a one-time salvation where we accept God once and everything is then golden. It's more like the story of Brigham Young and the people he sent to settle Arizona. They went out, ran out of water, thought they would all die, but they prayed to the Lord, and it rained, and they were okay. They came back saying that they were delivered, but that Arizona was no place anyone could live. Another man, listening to the story with Brigham, mentioned that they should have kept going and prayed again, and Brigham Young agreed (see "Abound with Blessings" in the April 2019 General Conference for a version of the story). Faith is being continually saved, not just relying on God when we're desperate and then relying on ourselves again... it's learning to do it all together, with the Lord. Looking back on inspiration and even revelation in our lives is awesome, and those memories can help us stay on track... but even better to be in tune with the spirit now, and have that ongoing inspiration.

Today, whether we're captive or delivered, in tears or laughter, let's remember the Lord and call on his name. Let's sow in tears and reap in joy, always turning quickly to the Lord for deliverance and help in doing his will, and always willing to change and become better, learning from God and making the world around us better and better as we go.