"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)
We cannot outfox God. He knows how hurts have been impacted us, even if we are in denial. Many of us were conditioned early in life to downplay pain and hurt. This is especially true for our boys and young men. Statements like, "You're a big boy", "You're not a baby", "Suck it up", "Stop crying like a little girl" teach us that crying is not acceptable, but suppressing emotions is. Yet, when emotions are suppressed, the pain does not go anywhere. Often, it manifests in a physical malady. Crying is an important release that is necessary, therapeutic, and healing.
We have all cried tears of anguish, sadness, brokenness, hurt, and pain. Some of those tears were shed in private; when we were alone and abandoned, when we thought no one was watching or that no one cared. But, in those moments of distress and angst, the Lord was there bottling every tear as it ran down our face. Why would God do this? Why are our tears important to Him? Tears reveal the state of the heart. They are a visible expression of what is going on in our souls--that is what matters to God. He keeps track of our sorrows. He is mindful of our hurts, pains, and soul wounds. He knows the rejection, abandonment, abuse, trauma, and suffering that has brought us to tears--even if it happened in childhood. God remembers. Even when we want to forget and act as if it did not happen--God remembers. Even when we minimize or downplay the intensity of the hurt--God sees, He knows, and He remembers.
Not only does God bottle every tear, but he gives us a guarantee that weeping is temporary, and joy will surely follow (Psalm 30:5). If you find yourself in a difficult, painful place that has caused you to weep, rest assured that God is aware of your hurt. He is bottling every tear. Sorrow will soon pass. Joy is imminent.
Some of us have made vows at the moment of hurt, that we would never cry or allow ourselves to feel the intensity of the pain. If this is you, it's okay. If you are carrying guilt over something you have done that you are terribly ashamed of, tell God you are sorry. Give your pain and brokenness to him. Receive his peace and his joy.
Prayer
Father, I thank you that you care about me. I thank you that you are concerned about what concerns me. I thank you that because you are with me, I am never alone. I thank you for the promise of the joy that is to come, even in the midst of great distress. Thank you for your peace, your grace, and your comfort. In Jesus name, Amen.
--Psalm 56:8(NLT)
We cannot outfox God. He knows how hurts have been impacted us, even if we are in denial. Many of us were conditioned early in life to downplay pain and hurt. This is especially true for our boys and young men. Statements like, "You're a big boy", "You're not a baby", "Suck it up", "Stop crying like a little girl" teach us that crying is not acceptable, but suppressing emotions is. Yet, when emotions are suppressed, the pain does not go anywhere. Often, it manifests in a physical malady. Crying is an important release that is necessary, therapeutic, and healing.
We have all cried tears of anguish, sadness, brokenness, hurt, and pain. Some of those tears were shed in private; when we were alone and abandoned, when we thought no one was watching or that no one cared. But, in those moments of distress and angst, the Lord was there bottling every tear as it ran down our face. Why would God do this? Why are our tears important to Him? Tears reveal the state of the heart. They are a visible expression of what is going on in our souls--that is what matters to God. He keeps track of our sorrows. He is mindful of our hurts, pains, and soul wounds. He knows the rejection, abandonment, abuse, trauma, and suffering that has brought us to tears--even if it happened in childhood. God remembers. Even when we want to forget and act as if it did not happen--God remembers. Even when we minimize or downplay the intensity of the hurt--God sees, He knows, and He remembers.
Not only does God bottle every tear, but he gives us a guarantee that weeping is temporary, and joy will surely follow (Psalm 30:5). If you find yourself in a difficult, painful place that has caused you to weep, rest assured that God is aware of your hurt. He is bottling every tear. Sorrow will soon pass. Joy is imminent.
Some of us have made vows at the moment of hurt, that we would never cry or allow ourselves to feel the intensity of the pain. If this is you, it's okay. If you are carrying guilt over something you have done that you are terribly ashamed of, tell God you are sorry. Give your pain and brokenness to him. Receive his peace and his joy.
Prayer
Father, I thank you that you care about me. I thank you that you are concerned about what concerns me. I thank you that because you are with me, I am never alone. I thank you for the promise of the joy that is to come, even in the midst of great distress. Thank you for your peace, your grace, and your comfort. In Jesus name, Amen.
