Are you wasting your tears?

If you know me at all, then you are well aware that I am pretty much able to cry on command. With that said, it’s obvious that I definitely have more of an emotional type of personality, and inevitably, over the years, I have shed countless tears for a multitude of reasons. Crying is a natural occurrence in the human life. We cry because we’re happy, sad, tired or while we’re watching that new viral cat video online.

Last night during a worship service at my church, we sang a song by Gateway Worship called “We Bow Low”.

We bow low, we bow low
Faces down to the ground in Your presence Lord
With our tears we wash Your feet
We bow low, we bow low
Falling on our knees
We bow low, we bow low
To the King of Kings

Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy are You Lord forevermore

It was during that personal moment with God that He asked me a question.

At first I wasn’t sure what He meant, but as I pondered that question throughout the night I realized that at times, I have!

In the book of Luke, there’s an account given of a woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. She was a sinner, yet she knew who He was and that He was holy and deserving of her everything- even her tears.

Luke 7:37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Do we treat Jesus with that amount of reverence and respect? I’m not saying that it’s wrong to laugh so hard that you cry or even that it’s wrong to cry when you’re sad or hurting. I am suggesting, however, that when we do shed tears in our darkest moments that it should be our first instinct to stop and kneel before God and turn the tears from agony and self-pity to a realization and reverence for the only One that can actually do anything about the giants we face.

Another song I love by Laura Story is called “Blessings”. The lyrics speak of healing and power that comes through difficulties and tears.

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

I know how challenging it can be to not view our difficulties as unmovable mountains. In our flesh, the giants of sickness, loss, heartbreak and financial burdens can often overshadow the power, strength and love of our Father. It’s imperative that we don’t miss out on the blessings and healing that can come through those dark times. Let’s not waste our tears by wallowing in self-pity and sorrow but instead let’s lay it all at His feet and ask Him to carry the heavy burdens for us. I promise He will!

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