Blessing, Rejoicing, & Weeping in Harvesting

Examining Scripture:

“Bless them which persecute you:
bless, and curse not,
Rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with them that weep.”
Romans 12:14-15

Evaluating Soil:

After a long hot summer like we’ve had, it’s nice to see a possible end to the heat. This year, we’ve had a run of higher temperatures than we’ve seen in a while, and for a longer period of time. This has made laboring outside more laborious, and the dry brown grass, wilted leaves, and less than thriving plants are showing the strain the heat has inflicted on them. We are feeling the strain too.

Seasons like this aren’t as fruitful as others. It’s…just…too…hot. That’s how the seasons are. Some years our harvesting brings lush, fruitful, rejoicing, and other seasons are dry, empty, and full of weeping. Not every harvest yields produce or productivity, especially in the seasons of persecution. The storms of our lives tend to set a hindered pace for fruitfulness.

When sorrow threatens to steal our joy and persecution invades our homes, our harvesting can take a back seat to the trial or conflict we are facing. Graciously, God has given us ways to survive the drought and despair with times of rejoicing, comfort from others when weeping, and strength to bless those who burden us with persecution. That is a harvest of grace to embrace and share.

Experiencing Seasons:

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. Like spring, it seems to colorfully celebrate the fruit of another year’s labor. By the end of summer, I begin looking forward to the cooler temperatures, and rejoicing with my husband, at Thanksgiving, over the blessings and accomplishments God allowed us to enjoy or complete throughout the year.

Some years we don’t see the fruitfulness we desire, but we have never had a harvest with nothing to be thankful for. While I’ve bemoaned the let-downs and losses of life, and regretted the failed attempts at fruitfulness, God has shown me that there are always things to be grateful for even in the middle of sadness and persecution.

Embracing Solace:

In our dry and fruitless seasons, we have to cling to the growth, greenness, and goodness that we do see in our lives. It’s there in the love and support of others during the happy and unhappy times. We must acknowledge and embrace it.

Enjoying Simplicity:

Enduring conflict becomes much easier when we accept the condition of our current season. Cursing our persecutors, rejoicing or weeping in isolation doesn’t nurture a harvest of holiness in us. It complicates the situation.

Employing Solutions:

We can blame the heat or the storms of summer on the lack of harvest we may reap. But, it would be better if we accepted the effects of nature and worked through the trials that come.

There are times when we will weep; times when we’ll rejoice, and times when we’ll face persecution. Ecclesiastes 3 teaches that there is time for everything:

“To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
…A time to weep, and a time to laugh…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1&4a

We don’t have to succumb to the heat of summer or the devastation of our storms. We can pick up the pieces, join each other and rejoice in the blessings, help each other through our grief, and be gracious to those who make our long hot summers seem hotter than they are.

Bring It Home

Do you see fruit budding in your summer season?

Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC