Friends can hold your hand and cheer you along but shepherding a God-given dream to fulfillment always involves watering it with your own tears. There is no fellowship or friendship that can lower the price of personal sacrifice required. That is the bad news. However, there is also great news...THERE WILL BE A HARVEST! Those who sow in tears will reap with joy. If you go out weeping, carrying the seed God has given you to sow, you will return with joy...carrying sheaves of abundance and success with you. It is important though that you recognize the season you are in:

A time for weeping. These are not tears of passivity or weakness. They are not tears of frustration when things get overwhelming or tough. Rather these are tears of passion, tears of determination despite the odds against you. Nehemiah was moved to tears when he saw Jerusalem's ruins. Then he sought God, developed a plan and went after it. What moves you? What do you feel passionate about? When you find it, then it's time to weep!

A time for reaping. Everything in life has a season and a reason (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-4). Those who understand the reason and maximize the season are like trees that yield their fruit in season. Fruit won't grow before its time. That's why you must discern your life's changing seasons and adjust to them. You need to know when to stop weeping and start reaping; otherwise you will miss your harvest. Tears are for the sower, joy is for the reaper. There is no joy that is comparable that of seeing the fulfillment of the dream God has placed in your heart! So when your season changes, harvest your fields with joy! You've paid your dues; now it's time to enjoy what God has promised you.