“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” [Psalm 126:5]

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy”. It should be pointed out at once that this is not a promise for all who weep. It is for those who sow seeds of righteousness and water them with their tears. Seeing the need, they pray about it and do what they can to meet it. The burden of that need makes them bathe their prayer in tears – it may be the tears of a mother heartbroken at the wayward-ness of her son, of a disciple who longs for his friend to find Christ or of one grieving for his sin. Strong crying with tears is needed to break the strong grip of the Evil One upon a life or situation.
Sowing in tears indicates an earnestness that prayer will be answered and that God will intervene: they are the tears that precede victory, they make a request that the Lord cannot refuse. The answer may not appear at once, but in harvest they shall reap with joy.