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This is my season to reap what I have sown CLICK TO TWEET SOME ENCOURAGEMENT |
I describe the last few hard years of my life as
my wilderness
wanderings. The saddest part of my confession? Accepting that the
wilderness might be where I would live out the remainder
of my days…I was wrong. I had it wrong. I do not believe that to be God’s
Will for my life. The moment I confessed that the blessings I saw so many
enjoying simply weren’t my lot MAY have been the moment I found myself in the
depths of my despair…#ButGod. I didn’t even know what to call what I was
experiencing at the time-suffice it to say that it was painful. It was
discouraging. It was hard. The faith I had was enough to get me there, to lead
me to the threshold of this hard place. What I didn’t know, what I hadn’t
realized was that I needed a deeper, broader, far more surrendered faith to see
the way out. I needed a deeper, broader, fully surrendered faith to see that
the wilderness was never the point, nor had it been my location for that time.
I now thank God for changing my lens; for
changing me. In learning this new thing, in appreciating this personal
revelation, I was reminded of a line by Stormie Ormartian. My faith over the
last several years of my life provided “just enough light for the step” I was
on…and it was enough. All that time, I wasn’t lost in the wilderness; I was
sowing.
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. Psalms 125:5-6 (NIV)
Sowing is hard, particularly if you are unaware
that’s what you’re doing. According to one writer providing commentary on this
Psalm,
Though the sowing of seed is a work of labor and
sorrow - often a work so burdening the farmer that he weeps - yet the return -
the harvest - is accompanied with rejoicing.
Yet the harvest. Yet the return. Now, finally,
now that I understand where I was and the lessons I needed to master, now, only
now, I can prepare to reap.
Just
the other day I was channel surfing the radio in the car. My musical tastes are
broad and wide, think hymns, anthems, jazz, vespers, and hip-hop Gospel. I also
appreciate a wickedly bawdy classic blues, e.g. Big Maybelle…I like my
soundtrack both sacred and profane. Anyway, William Murphy was singing clarity
into my experience, in the form of a song I’d heard many times before. The
difference was now I had more light on my step, more Grace in my life; I was
ready to receive the lesson. William Murphy was telling me “It’s Working.”
This is my season for grace for favor
This is my season to reap what I have sown…
See....I haven't been perfect, but I sure been faithful
See....God's got a purpose yes and I know He's able
I've got a seed in the ground, that He's blessing no more stressing
I've got a seed in the ground, now I know Him I can show Him…
Listen....everything is working together for my good.
Everything is working together for my good.
Everything is working together for my good…
It's good... Its working for my good.
It's good…Its working for my good.
It's real good, it's working together for my good…
God is leaning....in my direction,
He's leaning.....in my direction…
This is my season for grace for favor... yeah
This is my season to reap what I have sown
I've got a seed in the ground…
This is my season to reap what I have sown…
See....I haven't been perfect, but I sure been faithful
See....God's got a purpose yes and I know He's able
I've got a seed in the ground, that He's blessing no more stressing
I've got a seed in the ground, now I know Him I can show Him…
Listen....everything is working together for my good.
Everything is working together for my good.
Everything is working together for my good…
It's good... Its working for my good.
It's good…Its working for my good.
It's real good, it's working together for my good…
God is leaning....in my direction,
He's leaning.....in my direction…
This is my season for grace for favor... yeah
This is my season to reap what I have sown
I've got a seed in the ground…
I was sowing. But before sowing could even begin,
my fallow ground needed to be broken up. Hosea 10:12(NIV) explains…
Sow
righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up
your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and
showers his righteousness on you.
I am ready to reap. I thank You, Lord, for the
steadfastness You poured into me. I was too stubborn to give up, despite
wanting to believe that the blessings I’d seen You pour into other’s lives were
simply NOT for me. In my despair I began to believe that hard times would be
enough. That is not Your Will. That does not mean that we will not endure
trials, face hard lessons and heartbreak. However, you have promised to shower
Your Righteousness over us.
This is my message to you, the lesson I learned.
Life is hard. Even though we are exhorted to find contentment in our
circumstances, no matter the plight, we are never meant to believe that sorrow
is our sole lot. Although we endure long
seasons of hard times, His Grace and our tears combine to break up fallow
ground, to release fears, to shatter our barriers, that we might be broken for
His good. Broken that we might be fertile ground, ready to receive good seed.
Broken that we would seek Him, even though our weeping, to return with songs of
joy, reaping sheaves.
Here begins my season of Grace…