Aren’t tears a mysterious part of what it means to be human? It is strange that we have the capacity to cry—to expel water from our eyes when we are sad. It seems to serve no real purpose—although science can explain the physiological “why” and mental health experts can explain the psychological “why”.
Read: Psalm 56
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (Psalm 56:8, NLT)
Perhaps this psalm provides a clue. Maybe they are to remind us that God cares about the things that make us sad enough to shed tears. So much does he bear our sorrow that he collects our tears in a bottle, as the New Living Translation says, or as other versions put it, “he records them in his ledger.” In other words, God takes note—implying that he is not only aware of our sadness, but he will not forget it.
What is it that is making you cry today? A heart broken by a fractured relationship? A dashed hope or the death of a dream? A failed family? A personal sin? The consequences of a past mistake that continues to haunt you? What is it that you feel such deep sadness over?
It is likely that no one truly knows the depth of what you are feeling right now. Maybe no one will ever see those tears that have rolled down your cheek—and the intense hurt that caused them. Even if they do see your tears, how sad it is that long before your pain is healed, people will forget and move on.
But there is One who sees…and One who cares…and One who never forgets…and One who will never move on! And He wants you to know that, my friend. And that One, your Heavenly Father, simply asks you to take comfort in His compassion for you (Psalm 103:13), and to place your trust in him. In fact, so strongly does he desire your trust, that he extends the invitation twice just to make sure you really know his heart for you. (Psalm 56:4,10-11)
I hope you will do that. Entrust those tears to God. And let the very next tear that fills your eyes and spills down your cheek be a reminder that your tears never really just dry up and fade into a painful memory, they go right into the bottle of that One who truly cares!
Wow. Thanks for giving us such a personal view of God's tender love and mercies!
I so needed to read these words of hope today
thank you for your insight!
Blessings!
Thank you so much for a beautiful explanation. I will share with my Ladies at bible study. God bless you!
This is so inspirational and timely that i had to share it with a friend….
Thank God for caring for his children
This is soo very true. I praise rhe Lord for always being there when I most wanted to hear his voice. I have been in confusion and pain for th last few days and I have praying to the lord to speak to be and tell me that he loves me, just then, yesterday when I was most low and filled with tears, while we were doing the rosary, my dad read this verse in the end. It felt instantly as if it was meant for me to hear, the lord was talking to me. I was touched and blessed and felt soooo good that words cant describe my happines.. Thank you Lord!
Hi, my name is Noah Martin from Johnstown, PA. I wrote a book entitled "Tears In a Bottle: Comfort for Life's Hurts." It centere around the same Scripture from Psa
56:8 that pastgor Ray Noah draws from for his comments. Emotional pain is a response to a significant loss, disappointment, hurt, fear or failure. You long for that which is not. Jesus dealt with pain, as did many biblical characters. You can learn to deal with pain by the way that Christ dealt with His pain. As I write: "Life takes on a different view from the empty tomb." Keep up the good work, Ray.
Noah Martin
nice article thanks to share
This brought me so much comfort to know that God keeps our tears in his bottle. We lost our daughter and son-in-law two years ago just 33 days apart and we have shed so many tears and continue to grieve for them Our hearts are broken but now we feel comfort in knowing that God is there to catch our tears.
May God wipe away every tear and replace them with overflowing joy!