“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”
Psalm 56:8 ESV
I confess. I am a weeper. Tears fall easily – happy tears, sad tears, emotionally responsive tears. Tears are the language of my joys and my sorrows. It has been this way since I was a child.
I’m confident that after filling one bottle after another to contain my tears, God turned to the tear-keeping Angel and said, “Forget the bottles. Start using the 5-gallon buckets!”
Many times over the years, I have walked away from a situation, regretting that I could not say all that was on my heart because the tears prevented me from coherently speaking. My only offering was a wet hug and a choked prayer. As long as I can remember, I have been brought to tears by the pain and angst of others.
It happened again this past week with a total stranger. Crying uncontrollably, a woman stood trembling in the lobby of the Greenville, South Carolina hotel, where Russ and I had stayed while visiting friends.
I was moved to speak to the woman, but when she began to talk, my heart broke, and my tears fell in concert with hers. The 70-80mph winds of Hurricane Helene had ripped two enormous trees from the ground, which destroyed her home as they fell through the house, barely missing her son as he lay sleeping in his bed. The torrential rain quickly flooded the shattered ruins of her home. Between sobs, she said, “It’s gone – it’s all gone. We’ve lost everything but the clothes we’re wearing and our two cars.”
Another woman joined us, laying her hands on us both as I hugged the soaking-wet woman and began to choke out a prayer. The other woman’s “amens” and “yes, God, please” were strong and supported my feeble words of prayer over this suffering soul.
The sobbing woman calmed enough to tell us her pastor had been called. She seemed sure he would bring help. I hugged her once more and said she and her family would be in my prayers.
As I walked away, I felt, once again, my tears had taken over. I scolded myself and told God I was sorry for failing to give a distressed soul the right words of encouragement because my tears got in the way.
Then these words came to my mind, “Your tears are your gift.”
My “gift”? A “gift” to whom? To me, for me? To others? The answer to those questions is simply, “Yes.” When our words fail us, our tears speak volumes.
God’s sweet and ever-present Holy Spirit understands the language of tears.
He speeds our unspoken words to the listening ears of our loving Heavenly Father.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26 ESV
Sometimes, God chooses to close our lips—not allowing us to speak—so He can be heard more clearly in the heart of the one who most needs His words. God may use our tears to comfort others and point to Him, our only true Comforter and Sustainer.
God reminds us lovingly but firmly:
It is not you. It is not your words, thoughts, or actions that will bring salvation, redemption, healing, relief, or peace to the chaos of the situation.
It is not about you now. It has never been about you.
It is all about ME. It always has been, and it will forever and all time be all about ME.
There will be times when I will seal your lips through tears or other means. When I close your mouth so you cannot speak, I, Almighty God, will speak directly into the situation. Loud and clear, I will be heard in the hearts and minds of those who desperately need to hear My voice.
I may use your presence to encourage, comfort, and physically testify of My love and grace. But sweet child of Mine, your words are not the ones most needed in that moment. It is My words that are necessary.
Trust Me. When I want you to speak, I will open your lips and give you the words to say. Your responsibility is to walk closely with Me. Keep your heart, head, and hands ready and available. There will be times when a tear-stained hug and choked prayer is precisely what I will ask from you. I will let you know what your role is in each situation. Be ready.
Scripture repeatedly tells us that God sees His children’s tears and hears their tear-choked prayers—whether the prayers were for themselves, other hurting souls, or His backslidden people. God’s Word also tells us of times when He sealed their lips and gifted them with tears.
“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not Your peace at my tears!” Psalms 39:12 ESV
For now, prayer-filled tears are a gift from God—for us and others. But praise God, a day of eternal joy is coming when all the tears will be wiped away.
“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17 ESV
“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 ESV