Devotionals

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copyright Jeanne E. Webster

Psalm 126: 1-6 “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.

Then said they among the nations, ‘the Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, that’s why we are glad.

Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”



Have you ever been so captivated by something to the extent you appear to be dreaming? Sure, you have. Whatever captures our attention is a captor. Captors can be physical things and events as well as mental things. Or both at the same time.



In the scripture above, the Israelites had been released from captivity, and the joy they experienced made them feel they were dreaming. They began to laugh and sing after many years of physical captivity by their enemy, but also experienced a release from the mental captivity of despondency and depression. I imagine they even danced a bit. We could even say they became captivated by their joy and newfound freedom.



In the year 1991, I was captivated by a deep worry and dread of losing my oldest son in the Persian Gulf War. He was serving our country there in an army missile battalion, and my worst fears became captors of my inner peace and joy. I prayed this psalm one night, inscribed it in my Bible, and immediately felt released from that god-awful fear. I sang hymns and thanked the Lord for answering my prayers. Such was the assurance of my son’s safety that my spirit was jubilant, and I wept tears of joy and gratefulness.



How sweet it is when the Lord allows us to sense His “great things” happening in our lives. For a time we are bent down and weeping, then suddenly we sing to our heart’s delight. That precious seed, prayer, returned with rejoicing, bringing my sheaves of joy, still intact. Thank you, Father, for your loving kindness. As in a dream, on May 5, 1991, my son stepped off an airplane onto American soil once again, whole and unharmed. Amen.

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