Scripture Reading:
“Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”
—Psalm 126:4–6 (NLT)
Devotional Thought:
There are seasons when hope feels like a foreign language—when you’re still showing up, still breathing, but deep down, you’re wondering if God has left you behind. That’s where I am as I write this. The low of bipolar depression has hit hard. I don’t feel strong. I don’t feel spiritual. All I feel is tired.
Tired of the endless cycle: hope, pain, despair, depression, excitement, sadness, joy, confusion, love… and then back to pain. The emotional weight is exhausting. I read this Psalm and wonder—Will this ever be true for me? Will joy ever return? Will there be a harvest from all these tears?
I feel like Ruth—walking through life after loss, grief trailing close behind. She didn’t know where she was going. She was just faithful with the next step. She didn’t see the harvest coming, but God had already prepared the field—Boaz’s field. And He led her right to it.
Like Ruth, I’m still in the field. I’m still planting, even if it’s with tears. I don’t see the joy yet. But I’m trusting that maybe—just maybe—God is doing something beneath the surface. Even when my mind screams brace for impact, I want to believe there’s still purpose in the pain.
Reflection Questions:
- Are you in a season where joy feels far away?
- What would it look like to stay in the field today—even if you can’t feel the harvest coming?
- Can you find a small way to plant a seed of faith today, even in tears?
Prayer:
Lord, I’m still planting, even in my sadness. Even when I feel too far gone. Like Ruth, lead me step by step to the place You’ve already prepared. I want to believe You’re still working, still redeeming, even if I can’t see it yet. Take these tears and turn them into something beautiful. Help me hold on long enough to see the harvest. Amen.