The overwhelmed child is miraculously reunited with his beloved lost dog as the music comes to a crescendo as the Kodak commercial stimulates my empathy for the moment and a single tear slides down the side of my cheek. People cry. It is a human quality. These days I believe that I have become quite an expert at it. I have endured the harsh irritating tears falling from my eyes while cutting raw aromatic onions. I have cried tears of joy and laughter, my favorite kind, like retelling the story of the young nervous bride, me, discovering that as I removed my dress after the wedding that I had not removed the stiff dry cleaning cardboard from the garment before putting it on. No wonder I was uncomfortable! I have had the experience of weeping slow deep tears while being moved by the beauty of music being played by a symphony at Carnegie Hall. And I have cried anguished tears of great pain and loss in the emotion of losing a loved one. Did you know that God sees, records, and collects all our tears? Tearing eyes are also a part of the animal kingdom, but humans are the only ones who tear from emotions. Why would God collect and remember our tears if He did not think they were precious? It is comforting to me that He sees them as important to Him.
“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
There exist three major types of human tears: basal, reflex, and psychic (triggered by emotions). Basal tears are the natural tears which lubricate and keep the eyes moist, while reflex tears are triggered by irritants to the eyes like onion fumes, which then the reflex tears help wash them away. Psychic tears are associated with crying and weeping due to strong human emotions from physical pain, laughter, grief, joy, or in response to beauty in art or music. All tears contain organic substances including oils, antibodies, and enzymes that are suspended in salt water. Different types of tears have distinct molecules. Psychic tears have protein-based hormones including the neurotransmitter leucine enkephalin, which is a natural painkiller which is released when we are stressed. It is one of the natural reasons one feels better after crying. Are we not wonderfully and fearfully made?
I have always marveled at how simple it is for some people to cry and so difficult for others. All of us have shed tears from irritants to the eyes, but crying psychic tears is different. One must be relaxed with their emotions and trust that letting go of emotional control is safe and acceptable. Is it a condition of one’s heart? Is crying limited as socially appropriate only to the female sex and children? To laugh, cry, or express pain without inhibition is to be childlike and not self-conscience of one’s actions impacting others. Jesus tells us to receive the kingdom of heaven we should have that same childlike trust and abandon to Him. I want to examine the Biblical truth that there is an appropriate time to cry, that thereis an importance to tears, and to cry is to be in good company! Scripture shows us that there is a time for everything under heaven, and that the Lord hears our crying.
“…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance...” Ecclesiastes 3:4
"… 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears...” 2 Kings 20:5
“The Lord has heard my cry for help. The Lord receives my prayer.” Psalm 6:9
Jesus himself wept tears of emotions. Scripture records that Jesus wept at least two times as an adult. Once, before He called Lazarus out of his tomb and a second time as He gazed at Jerusalem shortly before His appointment at Calvary.
“…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance...” Ecclesiastes 3:4
"… 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears...” 2 Kings 20:5
“The Lord has heard my cry for help. The Lord receives my prayer.” Psalm 6:9
Jesus himself wept tears of emotions. Scripture records that Jesus wept at least two times as an adult. Once, before He called Lazarus out of his tomb and a second time as He gazed at Jerusalem shortly before His appointment at Calvary.
“Jesus wept.” John 11:35
“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! …because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41–44
“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.” Hebrews 5:7
I like to think that our tears are like liquid prayers. That crying is a tangible expression of our hearts and emotions at times when our words fail us. I believe that letting the tears flow freely is healthy. We know that scientifically our stress in subdued by the chemical release of neurotransmitters, but by faith we know that God receives these liquid prayers and accounts for them. Jesus wept as He called Lazarus out of the grave, perhaps not only because of sympathizing with the pain and loss by Lazarus’s loved ones, but also He grieved on a personal level. Jesus was witnessing a foreshadowing of His own death and resurrection. It grieved Him that He would have to physically suffer and die, and be placed in a tomb. He was overcome by His emotions. These tears or liquid prayers do have influence in heavenly places. Look at these scriptures of tearful intercession and the promises attached to them.
“My intercessor is my friend, as my eyes pour out tears to God.” Job 16:20
“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” Psalm 126:55
“…Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
There is a time when believers need the support, love, and liquid prayers of their friends and family. There is a time of tearful celebration of joy and a time when intense pain can cause us to cry out to God together. For those who may be crying today from personal suffering remember that there is a hope in Jesus. God promises that there is joy in the future for those who mourn. I know that healing is a process, and that we can trust a God that loves us so much that He collects, records, and understands our tears. Many people find solace in crying in the shower. It is a good private place to allow your salty tears to mix with the fresh warm water and then to be literally washed away. Yet remember not all the water goes down the drain. Our Lord has captured your precious tears into His heart, into His bottle, for all eternity, and understands the cost of those tears. The cost is the depth of one’s love poured out for another. So go ahead and have a good cry and pray like rain, and whether it is a few raindrops or a cloudburst…the Lord is ready to receive your tears!
“I served the Lord with great humility and with tears …” Acts 20:19
“Jesus wept.” John 11:35
“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! …because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41–44
“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.” Hebrews 5:7
I like to think that our tears are like liquid prayers. That crying is a tangible expression of our hearts and emotions at times when our words fail us. I believe that letting the tears flow freely is healthy. We know that scientifically our stress in subdued by the chemical release of neurotransmitters, but by faith we know that God receives these liquid prayers and accounts for them. Jesus wept as He called Lazarus out of the grave, perhaps not only because of sympathizing with the pain and loss by Lazarus’s loved ones, but also He grieved on a personal level. Jesus was witnessing a foreshadowing of His own death and resurrection. It grieved Him that He would have to physically suffer and die, and be placed in a tomb. He was overcome by His emotions. These tears or liquid prayers do have influence in heavenly places. Look at these scriptures of tearful intercession and the promises attached to them.
“My intercessor is my friend, as my eyes pour out tears to God.” Job 16:20
“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” Psalm 126:55
“…Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
There is a time when believers need the support, love, and liquid prayers of their friends and family. There is a time of tearful celebration of joy and a time when intense pain can cause us to cry out to God together. For those who may be crying today from personal suffering remember that there is a hope in Jesus. God promises that there is joy in the future for those who mourn. I know that healing is a process, and that we can trust a God that loves us so much that He collects, records, and understands our tears. Many people find solace in crying in the shower. It is a good private place to allow your salty tears to mix with the fresh warm water and then to be literally washed away. Yet remember not all the water goes down the drain. Our Lord has captured your precious tears into His heart, into His bottle, for all eternity, and understands the cost of those tears. The cost is the depth of one’s love poured out for another. So go ahead and have a good cry and pray like rain, and whether it is a few raindrops or a cloudburst…the Lord is ready to receive your tears!
“I served the Lord with great humility and with tears …” Acts 20:19
