There’s no question that all of us will face bad news, trials, and pain at some point in our lives. The real question is how will we respond?
 
I’ve been reading in Acts about how the Apostles were beaten and imprisoned for teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. In Acts 5:41, it says the Apostles were “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Then in Acts 7, as Stephen is getting stoned to death for teaching about the Lord, it says “he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,’ and falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’”
 
It seems the Apostles had an accurate understanding of Psalm 126:5-6.
 
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.
 
How will we respond to trials, persecution, and injustice? Will we bury our heads in sorrow and be rendered useless for the Gospel, or will we continue to sow and proclaim Jesus as the Christ through our tears? Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary hits the nail on the head:
 
Suffering saints are often in tears; they share the calamities of human life, and commonly have a greater share than others. But they sow in tears; they do the duty of an afflicted state. Weeping must not hinder sowing; we must get good from times of affliction. And they that sow, in the tears of godly sorrow, to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting; and that will be a joyful harvest indeed. Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be for ever comforted. When we mourn for our sins, or suffer for Christ's sake, we are sowing in tears, to reap in joy.