“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord , like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Psalm 126:1-6

This Sunday, Steph Rivas explored Psalm 126, a song for the road of discipleship and the role joy plays in our Christian walk. This psalm gives voice to the full range of the discipleship journey: celebration and longing, laughter and tears, harvest and sowing. As we follow Jesus, joy is not just an emotion but a testimony—evidence that God has acted, is acting, and will act again.

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 Joy is past, present, and future

• Psalm 126 uses all three tenses—past, present and future—to show that God’s joy isn’t fleeting.
• “People would like to have a bit of joy and they grab at it with music, or sports, or sex, or whatever it is and then it slips through their fingers. And that is a sign that people know there is something for which they are made. And they are not quite getting it.” N.T. Wright
• The world often sees joy as temporary or unnecessary, but as followers of Jesus, we know that joy is part of what we’re made for—and it's found fully in Him.
• “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
• God’s joy is abundant and steadfast because it flows from His faithful nature. Just like His love and grace, His joy never runs out.
• Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, which means it must be cultivated. Like real fruit, it grows over time with care, intention, and the right conditions.
• Practicing joy means choosing it, even on hard days. When life feels off, joy can still be an act of obedience and a way of keeping in step with the Spirit.

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Joy comes out of tears

• Tears don’t disqualify you from joy; they can be part of what produces it. Joy can grow from sorrow.
• You don’t need sorrow to have joy, but sorrow doesn’t cancel it either. The two can exist together. 
• God welcomes your grief, and when you surrender your sadness to God, He promises to bring beauty from it.
• It’s possible to waste your sorrow. Without bringing your pain to God, your tears can end up leaving you emptier. But when sown with trust, they produce real joy.
• Like seeds in a garden, tears need to be surrendered and entrusted to God.
• We sow our sorrows into Jesus, who bore our pain and suffering on the cross, and in return, He offers us His joy.
• “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11

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Joy is the testimony

• Our joy isn’t surface-level happiness; it tells the deeper story of Jesus' sorrow, sacrifice, and victory. 
• Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12). His suffering bought our salvation, and our joy in Him testifies to that finished work.
• “'You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” Psalm 4:7
• Our joy isn’t based on circumstance or abundance. In fact, the apostle Paul often wrote of rejoicing even when he was imprisoned, accused or beaten. 
• In Acts 16, Paul and Silas’ prison praise led to salvation for the guard and his whole family. Your joy, even in trial, can spark hope and faith in someone else.
• Whether you’re overflowing with joy or in need of encouragement, being together gives space for joy to be witnessed, cultivated, and shared.

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DINNER PARTY QUESTIONS

• How do you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness when joy feels distant?
• When you’re grieving, what helps you stay honest with God—and what makes that challenging?
• Who in your life has been a “living testimony” of the joy of the Lord? What did their life say to you?
• What does it look like for you to keep joy in the faith (see Philippians 1:25) even when life doesn’t go the way you hoped?

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