Ps 56:8
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book. NLT
We here, now, must not store our tears. Tears stored become idols, and a terrible influence in our lives. There are times we should, even must, weep – tears are purposed to release real pain and agony, or overflowing gratefulness, or joy. Holding them in denies the very wrongness or rightness of a situation, and can harm us. Certainly, if God would have something wept over, and we refuse, then God’s Will in that moment has been thwarted. Sure, there is also a time to act, to celebrate, to be strong in other ways that this writing is not about. Those are also expressions of the experience of what is bad, or very good. But weeping, often seen as weakness to be over-powered or ignored disdainfully, has a specific place in God’s Kingdom and must be accomplished. And when accomplished, we can wait until the needed tears are properly spent, without discomfort or embarrassment, without apologies, and with the understanding that God’s purposes within that soul; and for that occasion, are being achieved on earth.Jn 11:33-36 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” NKJV
Matthew Henry’s Commentary: John 11:33-44 (1.) …[1.] Jesus Christ was really and truly man, and partook with the children, not only of flesh and blood, but of a human soul, susceptible of the impressions of joy, and grief, and other affections. Christ gave this proof of his humanity, in both senses of the word; that, as a man, he could weep, and, as a merciful man, he would weep, before he gave this proof of his divinity. [2.] That he was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, as was foretold, Isa 53:3. We never read that he laughed, but more than once we have him in tears. Thus he shows not only that a mournful state will consist with the love of God, but that those who sow to the Spirit must sow in tears. [3.] Tears of compassion well become Christians, and make them most to resemble Christ. It is a relief to those who are in sorrow to have their friends sympathize with them, especially such a friend as their Lord Jesus.
As you read scripture, really see what joy and suffering looked like. Many times God’s main characters wept: Joseph at the point of being revealed to his brothers; Jesus in the garden where He prayed; Paul over his flocks; Mary just a moment before discovering the empty tomb! Jesus didn’t apologize for His tears, nor did His disciples in their writings. As we weep, we acknowledge the earth’s frustrations. As we struggle with our own sin nature, the sin nature of others, and the suffering and death that mortality affords, we look forward to the time when heaven takes its place with us here again in full permanence and glory…when we will weep no more, and always.Rv 21:3-5 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, (and be) their God: and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true. ASV
Until then, for the good of the soul, in expression of the emotions we have been given by God, we must weep, and we must humbly comfort the weeper, without apology, or shame.Ecc 3:1 & 4 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…ASV.
Blessings! Leaona Huston June 19, 2021