Sooner or later this trying time will pass. Life will return to a sense of normalcy. “For everything there is a season,” the preacher says (Eccl 3:1). So we’ll look to the turning of the page, but what will we have to show for it?
There are many real troubles we may face during this pandemic: concerns for our health and the health of loved ones, anxieties about the future and the unknown, a sense of helplessness, isolation, and—with many dealing with lack of work—doubts of worth. We may be apprehensive about the future for our communities and country, and we’re concerned for our spiritual well-being and the unity of brethren during a time of upheaval like this. But one of my chief concerns? Waste.
Psalm 126 describes a time of restoration. Gladness and laughter was found among God’s once destitute people like water flooding through the desert of the Negeb (v. 4). But who would do the rejoicing? “He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (v. 5). The people were greatly troubled, but if they wanted to reap in harvest time, tears couldn’t keep them from sowing. In truth, their planted tears would grow up into shouts of joy (v. 5)! It may sound insensitive to some, but Psalm 126 challenges us not to waste the opportunity of suffering.
I’ve heard from many who are using this time for tremendous good: greater focus on prayer, intense reading of God’s word, deeper spiritual conversations with family, connection with brethren through thoughtful giving, care for neighbors, or learning new skills in service to the Lord like languages, music, and technology. I’ve seen an explosion of activity focused on the Lord, and it excites me to think of the fruit to be born with God’s blessing. These people aren’t wasting a time of suffering.
But I’ve also seen a flurry of activity for worldly things. These aren’t necessarily bad; I myself have been trying to catch up on some projects around the house. What’s troubling is when we look to the material opportunities first and neglect the spiritual ones. What’s also troubling is that we may be doing nothing different during this time but merely waiting for the trouble to be over. What a waste!
The last few weeks have been…different for me. My schedule has been different, my work has been different, but while my focus in life must not be different, I’ve felt the pull of my circumstances. It’s been tempting to use my time selfishly. But when this trouble is past, again, what will I have to show for it? I don’t mean, “What will others see?” but rather, “Will God be pleased with my stewardship of this difficulty?” I’m reminded of Jesus’ parable of the talents. When the Master asks me for an account of this time, will he find me “good and faithful,” or will he find me “wicked and slothful” (Mt 25:21, 23, 26)?
This time during the pandemic has its difficulties, and we are all suffering to different degrees. However, this time of suffering must be when we plant with our tears if we wish to harvest the dream come true of God’s grace (Ps 126:1-3). The words of the hymn “Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer” seem appropriate:
Let the treasures of the trial,
Form within me as I go.
At the end of this long passage,
Let me leave them at Your throne.
May we be found faithful to work, doing the good we can do, “bearing the seed for sowing,” even as we weep (v. 6). —Justin Dobbs