Scriptures:
Isaiah 61:1
Psalm 126
Philippians 1:6
Genesis 50:20
Psalm 27:13
Psalm 35:28
Hebrews 12:2
Philippians 3:14
John 10:10
Points:
1. R – Remember with Anticipation
2. I – In-Between Trust
3. S – Sow in Tears, Reap in Joy
4. E – Expect the Turnaround
The Big Idea: What feels like pain in the planting will become joy in the harvest.
Life is a journey, but not just any journey – it’s a journey of joy. This concept, inspired by the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134), invites us to view our spiritual walk as a continuous cycle of growth, challenge, and triumph.
Picture a spiral staircase, each turn representing a phase in our lives: facing struggles, choosing to trust God, worshipping Him despite circumstances, and finding confidence in His faithfulness. As we ascend, we repeat this cycle, growing stronger and closer to God with each revolution.
The beauty of this journey lies in its repetitive nature. We’re not meant to experience one victory and be done. Instead, life looks like continually facing new challenges, deepening our trust, and celebrating God’s faithfulness anew. This ongoing process shapes us, refines us, and draws us ever closer to the heart of our Creator.
Psalm 126 beautifully encapsulates this journey. It begins with a powerful remembrance: “When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream.” The psalmist recalls a time of miraculous deliverance, comparing it to an almost unbelievable dream. This wasn’t just a personal liberation, but the freedom of an entire nation after 70 years of captivity.
The psalm continues, “We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’” Here we see the ripple effect of God’s work – not only were His people overjoyed, but even surrounding nations marveled at His power.
Yet, the psalm doesn’t end with this triumphant note. It shifts to a prayer: “Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.” This demonstrates an important truth: even after experiencing God’s miraculous intervention, we often find ourselves in need of further restoration. The journey continues, and we’re invited to keep seeking God’s renewing power in our lives.
To help us navigate this journey of joy, let’s consider the acronym RISE:
Remember with Anticipation: We’re called to look back at God’s faithfulness not just with nostalgia, but with eager expectation for what He will do next. Our past victories should fuel our faith for future triumphs.
In-between Trust: Often, we find ourselves in the “messy middle” – that space between the miracle we’ve experienced and the full restoration we’re still awaiting. This is where an “in-between kind of trust” is forged. We lean on God’s character and promises even when we can’t see the outcome.
Sow in Tears, Reap in Joy: The psalmist provides a powerful image: “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.” Our pain, our struggles, even our tears are not wasted. When we offer them to God, He can transform them into a bountiful harvest of joy.
Expect a Turnaround: As children of God, we’re people of promise. We can live in confident expectation that God is working, even when we can’t see it. Our turnaround story is already in His hands.
This journey of joy isn’t always easy. It involves facing our struggles head-on, choosing to trust when circumstances seem bleak, and worshipping even when we don’t feel like it. But it’s in these moments that our faith is strengthened and our character is refined.
Consider Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers and wrongfully imprisoned for years. Yet he was able to declare, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Or David, anointed as king but forced to run for his life, who wrote, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). These men exemplify the “in-between kind of trust” that sustains us on our journey.
Even Jesus, the “man of sorrows,” sowed tears in Gethsemane as He faced the cross. But His sowing led to the greatest harvest of joy – our eternal redemption. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that “for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
As we navigate our own journeys, we’re invited to bring our whole selves to God – our joys, our sorrows, our fears, and our hopes. When we sow our tears into His hands, He promises a harvest of joy so exuberant that it will cause others to take notice. The Hebrew word used in Psalm 126 for this joy is “rinnah” – a loud, expressive, triumphant shout of praise.
This journey of joy is not about achieving a quiet, passive happiness. It’s about experiencing a deep, overflowing joy that comes from knowing and trusting our faithful God, even in the midst of life’s challenges. It’s a joy that can coexist with tears, a peace that surpasses understanding, and a hope that keeps us moving forward beyond what we can see today.
As we press on in this journey, we’re growing more like Christ, becoming more fully who God created us to be. We’re learning to “take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12) – the full resurrection life that Jesus offers to all who believe.
So wherever you find yourself today – celebrating a victory, stuck in the messy middle, or sowing tears – remember that you’re on a journey of joy. Keep your gaze fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Expect God to move in powerful ways, transforming your struggles into stepping stones and your tears into testimonies.
Your turnaround story is not just coming – it’s already in the hands of a faithful God.
Discussion Questions
- How can we cultivate a mindset of ‘remembering with anticipation’ in our daily lives, and what impact might this have on our faith journey?
- In what ways have you experienced an ‘in-between kind of trust’ in your own life, and how has it shaped your relationship with God?
- The sermon mentions ‘sowing in tears and reaping in joy’. How can we embrace this concept during difficult times in our lives?
- How does the image of the Israelites’ journey and the Psalms of Ascent relate to our own spiritual journeys today?
- What does it mean to you personally to be on a ‘journey of joy’, and how can we maintain this perspective even in challenging circumstances?
- How can we apply the concept of ‘expecting a turnaround’ in our lives without falling into passive waiting or unrealistic expectations?
- In what ways can we, like Jesus, embrace being a ‘person of sorrows’ while still holding onto the promise of joy?
- How does the agricultural metaphor of sowing and reaping help us understand the process of spiritual growth and transformation?
- What role does community play in our ‘journey of joy’, and how can we support each other in remembering God’s faithfulness?
- How can we cultivate a deeper appreciation for the ‘fullness of resurrection life’ that Jesus offers, as mentioned in the sermon?
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