Tears are real. They happen every day all around the world. Tears protect us from an infection and they lubricate our eyes. Humans are the only ones who can shed tears as a result of an emotion. Have you ever noticed that when you cry, you feel better? That's the miracle of tears! If we couldn't cry, we would emotionally explode.
What does God say about tears? Tears are never for nothing and our suffering is never for nothing. The Bible says that God is near to those who cry out to Him and who desire His will (Psalm 34:15). God remembers our tears and keeps them in a bottle and writes them down in His book (Psalm 56:8).
Tears of the past, present and future are also recorded in God's book, the Bible.
Why do we have tears? We have to look to the past in God's word for the answer. In Genesis, we read about Adam and Eve, who first disobeyed God (Genesis 3). In the beginning, Creation was perfect with no sorrow or dying. When sin entered the world so did tears! Adam and Eve would have been very sorrowful when God drove them out of the paradise of Eden. Their perfect relationship with Him would be changed forever. A sacrifice would be required to approach a holy God, because man chose to separate himself from His God. Death had come to mankind because the payment for sin is death (Romans 5:12).
Tears of the present: God's ears are open to those who are crying at this moment. His desire is that we draw close to Him in our sorrow and pain. He wants us to turn to His Word so that we can learn to do His will and then He can make beauty out of our ashes. He can strengthen us in our weakness and do miracles through our tears! The Bible says that there is a time to cry, a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Jesus Christ is touched with the feelings of our weaknesses; He was tempted in all things as we are; yet He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). During difficult times, He understands, and if we surrender to His will and let Him into our lives, He will do new things that never could have happened without our tears.
The Lord Jesus cried Himself, as He considered the waywardness of mankind and the hardness of their hearts (Matthew 23:37). He groaned in His spirit when He saw the results of death. He knew that death and pain are the results of sin. He came to be the answer for our sin problem (Romans 6:23)!
Just as Adam and Eve needed a sacrifice, so do you and I. Those who take God's gift receive everlasting life. If a person comes to Christ in faith and trusts Him as Savior, this would be worth all of the moments of temporary pain and tears in his or her whole life time, because the person's eternal future would be secure and God promises no tears in Heaven, forever (Revelation 21:4).
Can there be tears in the future? The Bible says that for those who die without a savior, weeping and gnashing of teeth will be their portion forever in the Lake of Fire. God doesn't want this to happen to anyone (Revelation 20:15). This is why Jesus went through the most pain that anyone has ever endured. The pain intensified when God the Father turned His back on His innocent Son as Jesus suffered the wrath for our disobedience to God. He cried out, "My God, My God, why have You left me?"
God knows pain, He sent His innocent Son to die so that you could have real hope in this terribly wicked world and have His peace to carry you through your pain. Please accept Him as your sacrifice for the judgment of your sins. He loves you and wants to be there for you when you cry, to strengthen you and make you a blessing during life's most difficult times. You are not alone! God sees your tears.
Becky Kew shares Good News at Sandy Bay First Nation, Manitoba, Canada. BeckyKew@outlook.com
