For centuries, Christians have called this world a "valley of tears."
Yes, Christ has come. Yes, he is risen. And yes, it will come again. But we still cry, we hurt and cry, and we go with those who cry, hurt and cry. We trudge through the valley with heavy hearts, grieving for a thousand reasons: our depressed children, our estranged spouses, our dashed hopes, our loved ones who have passed, our ruinous sin.
"The God of all comfort watches over your weeping."
Sometimes we cry because life's worries have become chronic and fill our lives like uninvited guests who just don't want to leave. Sometimes we cry because an unexpected misery lands like a meteor and leaves a crater in our soul. And other times we cry and we don't really know why; Mourning defies description and analysis.
For such mourners, the message of the Bible is not to dry their tears. No, the Bible says that weeping is typical of life in the valley, and its message to those who mourn is far more compassionate and far more reassuring.
"I see you"
No sparrow will fall without God's warning (Matthew 10:29), nor will your tears.
When Hagar raised her voice in the wilderness of Beersheba, God drew near (Genesis 21:17). When Hannah wept bitterly outside the temple of the Lord, God noticed and remembered.—1 Samuel 1:10, 17. When David tired of groaning, God did not tire of listening (Psalm 6:6-9).
The God of all comfort watches over your weeping. He collects all your tears and puts them in his bowl (Psalm 56:8). Like a mother sitting at the bedside of her sick child, God marks every sigh of discomfort and pain. No matter how much of your agony has gone unnoticed by others, not a moment has escaped the attention of the God who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4).
As God told King Hezekiah, he could say to each of his sons, “I have heard your prayer;i saw your tears“ (2 Reyes 20:5).
"I'm worried about her"
Many of us are ashamed of our tears, especially when others see them. In a culture that values strength and is uncomfortable with prolonged grief, many of us respond to our own tears with a hasty wiping of our sleeves and a quick "get over it."
Not so with God, whose fatherly compassion moves him to reach out to the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). The God who said, "Blessed are you who weep" (Luke 6:21) will not blame you for the tears you shed as you walk through the ruins of our broken world.
"God will not hold you responsible for the tears you shed as you walk through the ruins of our broken world."
When Jesus joined a crowd outside the city of Nain and saw a widow weeping over the body of her son, "He had pity on her" (Luke 7:13). When Mary later collapsed at Jesus' feet over the death of her brother, the Man of Sorrows went one step further: "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). Jesus had compassion and wept even though Jesus was about to speak the word to save them both from death (Luke 7:14; John 11:43).
Just because Jesus loves us and knows how to solve our problems doesn't mean He takes a shortcut through our pain. The same who raises the dead stops first to stay with us in our pain, to descend into our vale of tears and walk with us.
Certainly not all tears arouse the compassion of our Lord. God has little patience when we weep in misery over the idols he has taken away from us, as when Israel preferred the food of Egypt to the presence of God (Numbers 11:4-10). But over every tear you shed in faith, broken but trusting, gutted but believing, hangs this banner: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18).
"I'll turn them into screams of joy"
A few hours before Jesus was to be betrayed, tried, beaten and crucified, he said to his disciples: “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will be sad, but your sadness will turn to joy” (John 16:20). The pain and the sigh will flee. tearsWillDry out. The pain will lose its control. So it was with Jesus' disciples when a dawn of resurrection cast the shadows out of their hearts. And so it is for every child of God.
Every tear you shed brings you "an everlasting weight of glory beyond compare" (2 Corinthians 4:17). Every drop of pain and agony sinks to the ground like a seed, waiting to sprout in a laughing oak tree.
"The same who raises the dead ceases to remain with us in our pain to descend into our vale of tears."
Maybe that sounds impossible. You may be wondering, “How couldit isSadness,it isNot,it isHas pain ever given way to joy? That's okay if you can't understand thatWasat the moment. God's ways are often too sublime and wonderful for us to understand. But can you believe, in hope against hope, that what is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27; Romans 4:18)?
Believing that God will turn our tears into screams of joy doesn't mean we stop mourning. But it means that we cling to him through the pain and let every calamity fall into his arms. And that we learn to complain before God instead of cursing his name.
We will continue to read our Bibles even if we feel dead to the Word of God. We will continue to cry out to God even when He feels deaf to us. We will continue to meet with God's people even if they don't understand what we are going through. We will continue to serve others even as we carry our pain with us wherever we go. And we will continue to sow the seeds of truth and grace in our barren souls, waiting for the day when God will take us home.
"I will erase them all"
Like Andrew Peterson in "After the last tear“
Al final, . . .
We'll see how the tears fell
They were caught in the hands of the giver of love and the lover of everything.
And we will remember these tears like old stories.(Video) LET THE BIBLE SPEAK - God's Bottle Of Tears
Our crying can be delayed for a long, long night. As we journey through this valley we will face the onslaughts of loss, disappointment and death. But joy will come in the morning when God will turn this vale of tears into a city of everlasting joy.
"God will turn this vale of tears into a city of everlasting joy."
On that day, God Himself will bow down to each of His grieving children and somehow wipe away their tears forever. "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, nor will there be more outcry, nor outcry, nor pain, because the first is over" (Revelation 21:4).
And then your broken, weary voice becomes a cry as you testify before the multitudes of heaven: “You have saved my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 116:8-9).
And in a moment, tears become the stuff of old stories.
FAQs
What does God say about our tears? ›
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Do my tears matter to God? ›Why collect our tears? Because they matter to God. They mean something to Him. In Shakespeare's King John, Constance says, “Draw these heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes.” Your tears move God because they matter to God.
Where in the Bible does it say God holds our tears? ›In Psalm 56, the psalmist declares to God, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your record?” (56:8) God's plan for storing tears seems more viable than my mother's, but the rhetorical intent is the same.
What Bible verse says tears are prayers? ›Psalm 56:8 Tears are Prayers Too They Travel to God When We Can't Speak 11 x 22 Beautiful Bible Verse Wall Decal by Scripture Wall Art Includes Our Exclusive"Goof Proof Guarantee"
What is the power of tears? ›Crying for extended periods of time releases oxytocin and endorphins. These feel-good hormones can help diminish both physical and emotional pain. Once the endorphins are released, your body may enter a more relaxed stage, with oxytocin providing you with a sense of calm and well-being.
Do tears count as prayers? ›But God listens to your affliction. God hears tears as well as prayers (Ps. 56:8).
What happens when you cry in front of God? ›“If you cry, you can reach Him,” assures Manickavachagar. Sundarar breaks a promise and the Lord deprives him of sight. Sundarar compares himself to milk in which some dust has fallen. If we see a speck of dust in a jar of milk, do we pour away all the milk?
Why are tears so important? ›Tears prevent dryness by coating the surface of the eye, as well as protecting it from external irritants. There are no blood vessels on the surface of the eye, so oxygen and nutrients are transported to the surface cells by tears. Foreign bodies that enter the eye are washed out by tears.
Is it good to let your tears out? ›Research has found that in addition to being self-soothing, shedding emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins. These chemicals make people feel good and may also ease both physical and emotional pain. In this way, crying can help reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.
Does God catch your tears? ›In Psalm 56:8, God reminds us He is intimately concerned with every aspect of our lives. God doesn't judge whether our sorrow is "valid." But because of His compassion, He catches every tear that is shed.
Should you hold back your tears? ›
In the short term, it can cause pesky problems such as irritability, anxiety, and poor sleep. But over time, repressing your tears can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension — or even cancer.
Why are tears precious? ›The same way it is written in the Bible that GOD collects all our tears. The things which we consider as our deepest weakness and just don't feel like expressing it in front of anyone,GOD collects that and that is not the end,HE collected all the tears in HIS bottle means,he had saved it.
What is the gift of tears in the Bible? ›The Gift of Tears per se is not mentioned in the Bible, nor in the Catechism. It is a phenomenon mentioned in spiritual writers since very early in the Church, and it refers to an intense personal experience of God that overflows in abundant tears.
Does the Holy Spirit bring tears? ›Certainly the Spirit of the Lord can bring strong emotional feelings, including tears, but that outward manifestation ought not to be confused with the presence of the Spirit itself” (in Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service [2004], 99).
What does it mean that God will wipe away all tears? ›We can take strength in knowing that all the hard experiences in this life are temporary; even the darkest nights turn into dawn for the faithful. When all is finished and we have endured all things with faith in Jesus Christ, we have the promise that “God shall wipe away all [the] tears from [our] eyes.”
What are the 3 types of tears? ›- Basal Tears. Containing three separate layers, basal tears are complex. ...
- Emotional Tears. Your eyes produce emotional tears when you're overcome with emotion. ...
- Reflex Tears. The eye's lacrimal gland produces reflex tears, which are composed primarily of water.
Tears keep your eyes wet and smooth, and help focus light so you can see clearly. They also protect your eyes from infections and irritating things, like dirt and dust. Every time you blink, a thin layer of tears called a “tear film” spreads across the surface of your cornea (the clear outer layer of the eye).
How do tears heal us? ›Researchers have established that crying releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals help ease both physical and emotional pain.
How do you know God has heard you? ›Through the scriptures, we are taught that God will always hear our prayers and will answer them if we address Him with faith and real intent. In our hearts we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a feeling of peace and calm. We can also feel that everything will be fine when we follow the Father's will.
What does the prophet say about crying? ›The Almighty Allah also said about cry in The Holy Quran. The prophet pbuh also cry for the expressions of reverence and fear of Allah in perhaps the sort of cry will be granted to the Muslims, will be shade in the shadow of Allah on the judgment day when there's no shade but His.
Can God hear your prayers in your head? ›
You can be confident that God will hear the prayers in your head as he listens to your inner thoughts. Not only does God hear and respond to prayers in your head, but he also helps you express them whenever you need assistance putting your prayers into words. Romans 8:26 says, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
Does God comfort me when I cry? ›God absolutely responds to the tears of everyone!
In times like these, we can find strength, solace, and comfort by crying out to God in prayer. He is there to ease our sorrows and help us to deal with pain and suffering.
The Lord says, “'It is mine to avenge; I will repay'” (Romans 12:19 NIV). He wants us to trust Him to set things right and even the score. When we surrender our anger, we may still feel hurt, but that hurt won't express itself in active or passive retaliation.
Why do we close our eyes when we cry pray? ›Why do we close our eyes when we pray, cry, kiss, or dream? Because the most beautiful things in life are not seen but felt by the heart.
What happens when you cry too much? ›Crying more than is normal for you may be a symptom of depression or a neurological disorder. If you're concerned about the amount you're crying, talk to your doctor.
What happens after crying? ›Crying for long periods of time releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, otherwise known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can help ease both physical and emotional pain. Once the endorphins are released, your body may go into somewhat of a numb stage. Oxytocin can give you a sense of calm or well-being.
Do tears make you stronger? ›Crying has been scientifically proven to make you feel better. No, it doesn't solve your problem, changes the situation, or bring people back into your life. But it does provide you with an emotional outlet that begins the healing process, relieves stress, makes you mentally stronger, and fosters community.
Is it better to cry or hold it in? ›Chan, however, says that if you feel emotional and want to cry, it is best to let it all out rather than holding it back. “Crying can be helpful in some situations, but remember that it's only a means for you to express your feelings, be it anger, sadness, anxiety, frustration or grief,” he says.
Is it better to hold in tears or cry? ›You'll feel better afterwards
When you cry for emotional reasons, those tears contain stress hormones that help relieve the body of stress-induced chemicals. You're quite literally shedding stress.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, a reference to collecting tears in a bottle appears in Psalm 56:8 when David prays to God, "Thou tellest my wanderings, put thou my tears in Thy bottle; are they not in Thy Book?" David is referring to the belief that God keeps a record of human pain and suffering and always remembers ...
Where is God when we suffer? ›
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37). When we are suffering, God is right beside us. Nothing can separate us from His love. He wants to show us His love through His church, and give us a purpose through His Word!
How does God see us in his eyes? ›God sees each of us through eyes of unconditional love, and He loves everyone—it doesn't matter what they do, where they work, how much money they have, how educated they are or what they look like. We need to do the same. We need to learn to see others as God sees them.
What happens if you refuse to cry? ›When you are on the verge of crying but try to hold back your tears, the sympathetic nervous system speeds up your heart rate and the contractions of your heart muscle.
What happens if you don't cry? ›If you can't cry at all, you might have a hard time working through your own emotions, and you could also find it tough to connect with others. In the end, crying is normal, so don't worry about trying to hold those tears back — they're completely natural.
Can you train yourself not to cry? ›Science seems to agree — tensing up the muscles and giving yourself something to do can make you feel less helpless, and thus “may limit your crying response, because it seems that crying is in particular a passive and helpless reaction,” scientist Dr. Ad Vingerhoets, an expert on emotional tears, told The Cut.
What does crying do for the soul? ›Research has found that in addition to being self-soothing, shedding emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins. These chemicals make people feel good and may also ease both physical and emotional pain. In this way, crying can help reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.
What is gift of tears? ›The gift of tears is one way the Holy Spirit infuses Himself into a person's soul through the action of crying or weeping. During the infusion of this gift, a person may be unable to articulate what is happening inside him or her.
How does it feel when the Holy Spirit comes upon you? ›For some people, the Holy Ghost may cause them to feel overwhelmed with emotion and moved to tears. For others, tears rarely or never come. And that's okay. For them, the Holy Ghost may produce a subtle feeling of gratitude, peace, reverence, or love (see Galatians 5:22–23).
What are the two signs of the Holy Spirit? ›The symbols of the Holy Spirit are: Dove, Fire, Oil, Wind and Water. The Dove: This can be seen in the description of the baptism of Christ (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:30-34). A dove symbolises peace (Psalms 55:6; Song of Songs 2:12); purity (Song of Songs 5:2; 6:9); innocence (Matt.
What happens if we hold our tears? ›In the short term, it can cause pesky problems such as irritability, anxiety, and poor sleep. But over time, repressing your tears can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension — or even cancer.
What are the three different types of tears? ›
- Basal Tears. Containing three separate layers, basal tears are complex. ...
- Emotional Tears. Your eyes produce emotional tears when you're overcome with emotion. ...
- Reflex Tears. The eye's lacrimal gland produces reflex tears, which are composed primarily of water.
Crying is a sign of strength because it is a demonstration of a completely comfortable relationship with the self. Choosing to cry and feel is a choice in the interest of one's emotional health. Choosing to cry is also choosing not to care about the opinions of others.
Is crying a form of healing? ›Crying helps you recover from grief and pain
These natural chemicals give your brain that “soothing” and “empty” feeling that takes over after you've been crying. These hormones are associated with relief, love, and happiness, and can help you manage powerful emotions associated with grief and loss.
Acute emotional stress, positive or negative, can cause the left ventricle of the heart to be 'stunned' or paralysed, causing heart attack-like symptoms including strong chest, arm or shoulder pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting.