Tears

Frankie Valli is known for a song back in the 1960’s. . . “ Big Girls Don’t Cry”. . .remember?  Can you hear him whining cry yii yii yii?  If you’re too young, you might not know this one.  You can U-Tube it…Frankie Valli and the Four Tops.  It might be a catchy tune but I’m here to tell you, Frankie is WRONG!

I cried a lot several years back. Having a prodigal will do that to you.  Actually I have shed many tears over the years.  I am just like my mother.  She cries easily. Yes, we are those girls that even cry over the Hallmark commercials.  The world would like to think that we are weak people for doing so, but I wasn’t too sure about that, so I went to my Bible to do another study of my own.  I found out quite a bit.

            Guess what?  Jesus cried!  We believers know this one, because in our younger years of memorizing scriptures, we caught on to the shortest verse in the Bible. . . John 11:35 and it says,

            “Jesus wept.” He wept over the sorrow of his friends at the death of Lazarus.

            I bet he cried in the Garden of Gethsemane also.  It says he sweated drops of blood, he was in such anguish.  And usually when we are in such anguish, we cry.  And he certainly was not weak.  He is the strongest man I know.  He knew he was about to be crucified, to die a horrible, painful death, his Father turned his back on him during this time, his disciples…friends…slept when he needed them the most.  When the time came, the soldiers didn’t force him on that cross.  He crawled onto it willingly, willingly let them drive the nails into his hands and feet, willingly let them put a crown of thorns on his head, listened to the crowds taunting him and he asks the Father to forgive them!  When the soldiers reached up to give him vinegar and gall, something that would deaden the pain, he refused it.  He wanted to feel, to take on the pain of the whole world.  If that is not strength, I don’t know what is.  And yet, he cried.

            You will also find in Luke 19:41, that He wept regarding Jerusalem from afar, knowing what would befall the people of that city because of their rejection of him.

            Hebrews 5:7 says,

            “During the days of Jesus life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

            I loved reading he cried loud, because I have done the same.  He understands where we are coming from, how we are feeling, because he has been there.

            David, a man after God’s own heart, said in Psalm 6:6,

            “I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.”  I hear ya, David.

            Then in verse 8 he says,

            …The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.

            This tells me that crying is ok with the Lord.  The Psalms also tell us that He knows our sorrow and sees every tear.  He sees EVERY tear of EVERY person.  That is compassion.

            ll Kings 20 also records God seeing tears.

            Psalm 126:5 says,

            Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.”  The footnote says,

            ‘God’s ability to restore life is beyond our understanding.  Forests burn down and are able to grow back.  Broken bones heal.  Even grief is not a permanent condition.  Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy because God is able to bring good out of tragedy.  When burdened by sorrow, know that your time of grief will end and that will again find joy.  We must be patient as we wait.’

            Another man in the Bible who cried was Job.  He is described as a blameless and upright man who fears God.  Job 16:20 says his eyes poured out tears to God.

            So you see, we criers are in good company. And did you notice these were big people?  It’s o.k. to cry, not just us big girls, but you men also.  A lot of the crying in the Bible was done by men!

            Don’t be ashamed, let the tears come and flow as long as needed. Cry yii yii! I know from experience, as hard as the process is, afterwards, you will feel inwardly cleansed, calmer, and you will sleep well.  And remember the good news in Revelation.  I found it twice…being spoken about believers…

Revelation 7:17

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;

He will lead them to springs of living water,

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 21:4

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Could that living water be all our tears?

Bring on the joy!

251.  toasted sesame seeds

252.  spring, bloom filled branches inside to enjoy

253.  bible study in small group homes

254.  sharing thoughts with a couple at church

255.  hearing other people pray for our boys

256.  acceptance letters to school

257.  excitement on boy's face when he read above letter

258.  new, faithful, sincere prayer warriors

259.  that still small voice that whispers into the soul

260.  an endless cycle of grace

261.  tears

(be sure and scroll all the way down to see my husbands video of his photography set to music...be sure to listen through your speakers.)