Date: 20 December 2023
Author: Janie Bruce
Text: Psalm 126: 4-6
Title: Farming Joy
There is a lot of science to farming. I learned more farming science this past summer working with the CYM groups out on the sea islands surrounding Charleston than I ever thought I would know, or need to know. But the basic truth that we all know is that when we plant seeds, tend to them, and eventually harvest them, we get what we plant. We plant sweet potato seeds, we get sweet potatoes. We plant watermelon seeds, we get watermelons.
This psalm ends with a metaphor of sowing seeds of turmoil and harvesting joy. It’s a reminder that what God does is greater than anything that we can do. This psalm speaks of God’s ability to bring joy out of the hardest of times. The seeds of God’s love for us are planted in tumultuous times and through prayer, faith, and focus on God we eventually find ourselves living in joy once again. Only God can bring joy from pain. Only God can change what was planted into a new and transformed harvest.
Challenge: “What are we waiting for?” Take time today to look back on a time when you were suffering and eventually came out on the side of joy. Then take a moment to intercede on behalf of someone in your life that may be going through a hard time. Ask that they be brought into joy through God’s good work.
Prayer: God of transformation, we are grateful that you can turn our tears of suffering into tears of joy. We wait patiently and trust in your timing. Amen.
Author: Janie Bruce
Text: Psalm 126: 4-6
Title: Farming Joy
There is a lot of science to farming. I learned more farming science this past summer working with the CYM groups out on the sea islands surrounding Charleston than I ever thought I would know, or need to know. But the basic truth that we all know is that when we plant seeds, tend to them, and eventually harvest them, we get what we plant. We plant sweet potato seeds, we get sweet potatoes. We plant watermelon seeds, we get watermelons.
This psalm ends with a metaphor of sowing seeds of turmoil and harvesting joy. It’s a reminder that what God does is greater than anything that we can do. This psalm speaks of God’s ability to bring joy out of the hardest of times. The seeds of God’s love for us are planted in tumultuous times and through prayer, faith, and focus on God we eventually find ourselves living in joy once again. Only God can bring joy from pain. Only God can change what was planted into a new and transformed harvest.
Challenge: “What are we waiting for?” Take time today to look back on a time when you were suffering and eventually came out on the side of joy. Then take a moment to intercede on behalf of someone in your life that may be going through a hard time. Ask that they be brought into joy through God’s good work.
Prayer: God of transformation, we are grateful that you can turn our tears of suffering into tears of joy. We wait patiently and trust in your timing. Amen.
Janie Bruce is the Mission Immersion Site Director for Charleston Youth Mission. She is a long time resident of Charleston, SC. Family time at beaches or camping are a favorite. Janie also serves as the Director of Youth Ministry for the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery.
