Whether people believe in God or not everyone needs hope when downcast -- and everyone gets dejected at some stage. The following Biblical quote from Psalm 126 verse 5 is a tremendous encouragement to anyone struggling in life. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” We’re reminded that there is no reaping without first sowing, and that need will come before and follow supply as life ebbs and flows.
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Dr. Marcus Dods is quoted: “The world is unintelligible except on the hypothesis that it is for our schooling, and that he that sows in tears is the likeliest to have sheaves worth gathering.”[1]
Dr. Marcus Dods is quoted: “The world is unintelligible except on the hypothesis that it is for our schooling, and that he that sows in tears is the likeliest to have sheaves worth gathering.”[1]
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It takes courage to keep going despite unimpressive results or even the pain of torment -- of investment without return. It requires a pure and simple faith, complete with a pinch of wisdom, to keep going under those conditions toward the hope of things turning around.
It takes courage to keep going despite unimpressive results or even the pain of torment -- of investment without return. It requires a pure and simple faith, complete with a pinch of wisdom, to keep going under those conditions toward the hope of things turning around.
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It also takes honesty to assess chances of success and the realistic odds of a turn-around. There’s a huge difference between a wish and hope. We have little control over wishes. They’re desires that may be entirely unrealistic; whereas hope is linked with faith and has more certainty about it -- it’s based in realism and truth. We can realistically hope whereas wishing really gets us nowhere.
It also takes honesty to assess chances of success and the realistic odds of a turn-around. There’s a huge difference between a wish and hope. We have little control over wishes. They’re desires that may be entirely unrealistic; whereas hope is linked with faith and has more certainty about it -- it’s based in realism and truth. We can realistically hope whereas wishing really gets us nowhere.
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We have many times of seeming hopelessness and we hardly ever realise (at the time -- until afterwards) we can turn this hopelessness around in an instant; suddenly our hope is restored. We are positive again and not paralysed by the anxiety of fear. It’s a trick of the mind. It’s a decision. It’s simply deciding and acting ourselves into a different way of thinking.
We have many times of seeming hopelessness and we hardly ever realise (at the time -- until afterwards) we can turn this hopelessness around in an instant; suddenly our hope is restored. We are positive again and not paralysed by the anxiety of fear. It’s a trick of the mind. It’s a decision. It’s simply deciding and acting ourselves into a different way of thinking.
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If we’re resolute however, and know our way to be the best or only way, we have to keep faith. Endure the present difficulty and continue sowing in tears. We will eventually reap with songs of joy.
If we’re resolute however, and know our way to be the best or only way, we have to keep faith. Endure the present difficulty and continue sowing in tears. We will eventually reap with songs of joy.
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Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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[1] W. Graham Scroggie, A Guide to the Psalms, Four Volumes in One (Vol. 3), (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1995), p. 241.
[1] W. Graham Scroggie, A Guide to the Psalms, Four Volumes in One (Vol. 3), (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1995), p. 241.
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