Are We There Yet? Devotional by UnitedPrøve

TITLE: Delightful (The Sower Never Wastes A Tear) LYRIC: ‘ I know the Sower never wastes a tear ’ - Delightful (The Sower Never Wastes A Tear) SCRIPTURES: * Psalm 30:11-12 NLT * Psalm 126:5-6 NIV * John 10:10 NIV DEVOTIONAL: Life is full of different seasons. We may experience times of blessing, joy, and new opportunities. We should be thankful for these times. However, unfortunately, many of the seasons we come across in life are also ones of sorrow, tears, difficult circumstances, and unwanted challenges. Thankfully, Scripture is not without encouragement and promise regarding our times of trouble. Psalm 126:5-6 (NIV) says, “ Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. ” One of the beautiful truths of the way that God works in our lives is that He doesn’t allow the things we face in life to go wasted. Even more than this, Scripture promises that God uses everything that takes place in our lives and works it together for our good. Romans 8:28 (NLT) says, “ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Regardless of whether the season is full of triumph or of trial, we can take great encouragement in the fact that God doesn’t leave us to face the seasons of life alone. He is with us and He is working. Nothing in our lives is wasted when it comes to God. In fact, just the opposite. Many times God turns our sorrow into rejoicing. When speaking of His future crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciples, “ Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. ” ( John 16:20 ESV ). The disciples were unaware of the depths of sorrow they would experience in the days ahead, yet, they were also unaware of the miracle of the empty grave that waited on the other side of their sorrow. This season did not end in sorrow but in rejoicing. We serve a God who not only stands with us in the seasons of sorrow but who turns these seasons around—working everything together for our good. Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT) reminds us, “ You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! ”. As we go through the seasons of life, and they inevitably ebb and flow with sorrow or joy, we can hold steadfast to the promises of God. They are not empty words of false encouragement, but deep sources of truth that will sustain us through every season of life. This is why we can confidently say, “ I know the Sower never wastes a tear .”