Bible Passage: “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 126:5-6 ESV)
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:7
It’s 10 P.M. as I sit down to complete the last chapter of our journey together this week.
Truth be told, I’m quite tired; it’s been a long day, and I’m not entirely sure how to wrap this devotional up in a way that’s neat and tidy.
I hop on my phone and scroll for a couple of minutes just to distract myself, and I’m suddenly hit with the irony of the situation.
I’ve been telling you all week that a sound mind is one that fights avoidance and accepts the reality of our uncomfortable and difficult emotions, while remaining committed to the pursuit of our deepest values.
Yet, here I am finding myself gravitating towards avoidance by instinct.
I suppose we never really fully arrive at achieving a sound mind perfectly, do we?
Yet, I determine to put my phone down to write.
The last—and perhaps, most critical—principle of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is committed action. We use this term to describe the process of turning our values into concrete behaviors and living them out, even when difficult emotions, thoughts, and circumstances are present.
When we choose to take concrete actions aligned with our values, that’s when we’re most psychologically healthy. That’s when we have a sound mind.
In Psalm 126:5-6, we see the psalmist painting a picture of a farmer sowing seeds while weeping. I can’t think of a better picture of committed action than this. He doesn’t deny the tears or avoid the weeping, but he keeps moving forward in obedient action in spite of what he feels.
The beautiful promise of this Scripture is that if we’d determine to continuously engage in committed action—even when we least feel like it—we’ll eventually reap a harvest with shouts of joy.
A sound mind sets the stage for a fruitful harvest.
Whether you’re Michael Jordan playing through uncomfortable flu symptoms, or a guy like me, trying to keep pressing on to complete a task so I can go to bed, you’ll be strengthening and developing a sound mind each time you determine to take committed action, even when you least feel like it.
May the Lord teach you to approach all that you feel with acceptance, while committing to engaged, values-oriented action in spite of it.
Keep sowing, even if it’s in tears!
Good night.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, reveal to me what it would mean to me in my life to keep sowing even if it’s through tears. Strengthen me with what it takes to remain committed to taking action, even when I feel least like it. Amen.
Reflection: What would committed action look like for me, in my life and with my specific challenges? What is a committed action that I simply need to take to begin moving in the direction of my values?
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