Today, an unexpected wave of grief and sorrow flooded my heart, and the tears flowed. I miss my mom. That is the fact of the matter. I miss my son. That too is the fact of the matter. Unexpected waves...of grief.
It is a smell, it is a sudden memory, a date on the calendar, a song, a "material" item that they loved, and now belongs to you - that can open the doors to these all too hard, cold and raw emotions. Time can lessen the grief, but time does not always change how much we miss the loved one no longer here.
That is one constant, we miss that loved one and always will.
What does one do then, that is momentarily bombarded with sudden waves of grief that unexpectedly come out of nowhere? I think in some ways, it is okay to lean into them and let the tears flow. Let the tears just flow and allow God to mend our broken hearts as we pray - but pray we must. Keep the communication open with the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Jesus knows all too well of grief. He can empathize with us, not just sympathize.
2 Corinthians 1: 3-7 shares a beautiful and profound verse that may help in the time of need: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
These verses, too comfort me: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 and 17-18:
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
These verses remind us, that what we face in this life, on this side of eternity, while it seems so large and looming, is but a light affliction. It is but for a moment. It is working IN us a FAR MORE EXCEEDING and ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY. That is a crucial truth we need to cling to.
When you feel like giving in and throwing in the towel, recall to mind these verses. You remember, these trials are but for a moment. We who trust in our God must endure unto the end to gain the ‘eternal’ prize! This race is not for the swift, but unto the one who endures unto the end. We must endure. We must!
Some key verses about enduring unto the end:
1. Ecclesiastes 9:11 – “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
2. Hebrews 12:1 – “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
3. 2 Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
4. Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
5. Matthew 24:13 – “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
6. James 1:12 – “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
So hang on tight, Christian warrior, we are not alone in this race. We fight to the finish line, holding fast, the confession of our faith! We pray and we study the Word, getting it deep down into our spirit so in times of need, we can pull it back up in unexpected moments…unexpected waves…of grief and disappointment. Unexpected waves of shock, pain, or anger. Unexpected waves of the unknown.
You hold tight to these verses also, knowing your tears are bottled in Heaven; knowing that He (you and I) who “continually” go forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing – “Shall” DOUBTLESS come again with REJOICING, bringing his (our) sheaves with him (us).
Sheaves are the return of the seeds we planted. Your weeping, is the “sowing in tears” in Psalm 126 that ‘continually’ go forth (in our weeping) which are bearing the seed for sowing – and it is these tears that will cause us to “doubtless come again with rejoicing” and “bring sheaves with us” as we do! Hold fast! Hang on! Endure unto the end!
Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes [c]forth weeping,
Bearing [d]seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 56:8
You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?
**Updated to add this section for Psalm 126, I try to keep what I write authentically my writings. Later, I did do a quick ChatGPT check on my interpretation of Psalm 126 and while what I wrote is correct, I liked how ChatGPT polished up the interpretation. I pasted it below. I pray it helps you understand that those who sow in tears reap in joy.
ChatGPT version:
Saints, don’t overlook the power of your tears. Psalm 126 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” That’s a promise, not a possibility.
You may be going out weeping, again and again—heartbroken, tired, worn—but you’re still carrying seed. And that means you’re still planting. And the Word of God says you will doubtless—without question—come back rejoicing, bringing your sheaves with you!
Your “sheaves” are the blessings, the breakthrough, the fruit of your faithfulness. Every tear, every step, every moment of obedience in the dark—it’s all working together for a harvest you can’t yet see.
So don’t quit. Don’t stop sowing. Don’t let the weeping fool you—joy is coming. Hang on. Stand firm. Endure to the end. Because God’s Word never returns void.