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“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.”  (Psalm 34:15, ESV)

“I don’t like to cry.”

That’s a sentiment I often hear in my office.  For many women tears mean weakness or a lack of control, something they want to avoid.

As women we cry when we’re angry, sad and even when we’re happy.  Tears are a language that God gave us to communicate the many facets of our emotions.

Throughout scripture people cried their heart out to God for various needs.  Never do we see God say that tears are a sign of weakness.  In fact, we see people in the Bible that God thought very highly of and tears were a large part of their character.

Jeremiah was the prophet for the southern kingdom of Judah in the Old Testament right before it fell to Babylon and was led away into captivity.  God sent him to warn a crumbling nation on the brink of disaster – a warning they didn’t heed.

Yet instead of becoming complacent with the situation and saying things like “they got what they deserved” – he wept over them.  Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet” for his wish to have a fountain of tears (Jeremiah 9:1). He wept over the self-destructive behavior of a rebellious nation. When judgement came – he wept for those who were slain. He wept for the pain he saw people endure. He’s credited with writing two books in the Bible focused on weeping/lamenting (Jeremiah/Lamentations).

How much strength does it take to do the easy thing in life?  The easy thing is very seldom the right thing.  It takes a lot of strength to do the right thing. The right thing in Jeremiah’s situation was to grieve his people.  He cried out to God on their behalf continually asking for mercy. How often have you cried out to God for someone who is not walking with the Lord? When was the last time you wept for someone who has done you wrong?

Tears are powerful.

David was known as a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). It wasn’t because he was perfect.  In fact, he messed up quite a lot. So, what made him a man after God’s own heart?  I think it was his willingness to be vulnerable with God.  He wrote a good portion of the book of Psalms.  Many of them his personal prayers to God in times of distress.  He cried and expressed his sorrow for his mistakes and failures.  He repented.  He didn’t pretend to be in control or have it all together.

Tears are prayers – God listens!

“Father we thank you that we can be vulnerable with you.  That crying in your presence is one of the safest and healthiest things to do.  You don’t expect us to have it all together.  You just expect us to trust you – the One who does!”

For His Glory,

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life