Reap that joy of the Lord

Psalms 126:5-6 NLT
[5] Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. [6] They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.126.5-6.NLT

Many times the Israelites faced hard times and opposition from the enemy, but God delivered them every time as they learned to trust Him and look to Him.

You and I have an enemy that loves to wreak havoc in our lives, causing anguish and heartache. Stress and anxiety come from the times when we try to figure it all out on our own, when we go it alone. But the God of Israel is our God. He has brought us all together in Christ,  making one new creation; one church, one baptism, one body. Know that the tears of sorrow and sadness we endure now will become tears of joy and blessings in His time.

The work of planting seeds yields a harvest that will bring great joy if we remain patient in the growth process. When we sow seeds into the lives of others, we will reap a great harvest in due time. Patience builds endurance, and endurance breeds hope. Hope brings joy. Hope is what we are sowing into the lives of those we minister to.

Moses stood in the gap, between God and men. God delivered the Israelites from bondage, from slavery in Egypt. Today God uses you and I, as he breathes life into us. Then we are able to come along side of others who are in the midst of their own bondage to sin. God fills us with love, compassion and empathy for those who are hurting, who have become weary and downtrodden, trampled and crushed by their own sinful habits, past hurts, and hangups. This is what matters in life; bearing one anothers burdens in fulfillment of God’s grest commandment to love Him and one another

Jeremiah 31:1-10 NKJV
[1] “At the same time,” says the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” [2] Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when I went to give him rest.” [3] The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. [4] Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice. [5] You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria; The planters shall plant and eat them as ordinary food. [6] For there shall be a day When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To the Lord our God.’ ” [7] For thus says the Lord: “Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!’ [8] Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there. [9] They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn. [10] “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’

https://bible.com/bible/114/jer.31.1-10.NKJV

The harvest we reap will be a harvest of souls; lost people returning to God. Like lost sheep who wandered, being found by the Great Shepherd. This brings true joy as we see hurting people made whole in Jesus Holy name!