When God gives you a vision, be prepared to shed some tears over it because every vision comes with a price tag. The road to triumph is through tests and trials. Nobody gets a free pass. But God has promised that there will be a harvest: ‘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 126:5-6 NLT). That Scripture teaches us two things:

1) There is a season for weeping. This is not an excuse for passivity, or a posture of weakness that reduces you to tears because life is not fair, and things are tough. Nehemiah was moved to tears over Jerusalem’s ruins. Then he developed a plan, put together a team, and rebuilt it. What moves you? What do you feel passionate about?

2) There is a season for reaping. Everything in life has a reason and a season (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). When you understand the reason and maximise the season, you become ‘like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season’ (Psalm 1:3 NIV). Note the words ‘in season’. Fruit won’t grow before its time. That’s why you must discern your life’s changing seasons and adjust to them. That’s particularly true when it’s harvest time. You need to know when it’s time to stop weeping and start reaping; otherwise, you will miss your harvest. Tears are for the sower, but joy is for the reaper.

So, when your season changes, harvest your fields with joy. You have paid your dues; now it’s time to enjoy what God has promised you.