I shed tears today. The emotion hit me hard. It had been building for awhile. I felt sad, really sad. But I also found myself very aware of the presence of God.
Finding God In Tears
You might wonder what led me to tears. Well our emotions are rarely simple. I guess I had a variety of things that tugged on my heart. I had ministered that day to someone whose mother suffered a terminal illness. I was stressed about some deadlines. I hadn’t slept much the night before. I had a really good conversation with my oldest daughter’s boyfriend about what made my daughter special. We had a really cool talk.
I had all of these things on my mind and then I thought of one more thing…my second child, my son. He would be leaving for college in two weeks. It hit me like a punch to the gut. I froze… tried to hold back the tears, but I couldn’t. I wept.
My son is not just my son, but also my friend. His world is about to change as he launches from home. But my world is also going to be altered forever. The transition wrenches my heart.
This same feeling hit me two years ago when my daughter left for school. I know it is normal.
And I guess that is the point. Our tears are normal, even beautiful.
One of my favorite moments in Jesus’ ministry was when he came to the grieving family of Lazarus. He saw Lazarus’ loved ones crying over the death of this man. Those of you who know the story know that Jesus was going to raise this man from the dead.
Here he was, watching this family wail in grief over someone he was about to return to them. He was going to fix the situation. You would think that he would shout at them and say, “Hey, suck it up. Stop your crying. I am going to raise Lazarus. You have nothing legitimate to cry about.”
But he didn’t say that. Instead, do you know what he did? He wept. (John 11:35)
He cried with them. Knowing full well that he was going to raise this man, he first joined with them in their tears.
Wow! Jesus sees fellowship in tears. He sees the importance of feeling our feelings. He even mingles his tears with ours.
So when I weep over a change in my life or family…God is with me in the tears. I am not alone. When I weep for joy…he is with me. When I weep in pain…he is there.
God is with me in my emotions, in my feelings.
Maybe some of you are thinking right now…this blog is getting a little sappy. Maybe so, but I think I am making a point that is salient to us all.
We all feel our emotions. They play a huge part in our lives. The point I am making is that God is with us in them, even when our emotions are about a pain that he knows he is going to someday deliver us from. That is irrelevant. What is relevant is that God is with us not only in the deliverance or the solution. God is even with us in the sadness, the bewilderment, the frustration and anger before the solution is ever worked out.
God is there.
So today, when you feel your feelings (whatever they may be) know that God is with you in the midst of them.
Question: How have you experienced God in the midst of tears? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I have felt this so much the past few weeks. Him being with me as I let my emotions be seen through the hard times I have been facing.
He is always with you!
I have experienced 3 deaths this week. I was able to attended 2 funerals in 2 days. One my 95 year old husband’s aunt a true southern lady. Who is now united with Jesus her husband and only child. The other a 66 year old friend of ours… my greatest pleasure in knowing this man was his smile and
happiness even knowing he had a very short time to live he was saved .The last thing he said to me was I’ll see you there. Don Sublette was a patient where i use to work he also was terminally ill. He spent many hours talking about his faith and his love of Christ. He also had no fear of death. I guess I am crying because even though I am saved and do not fear death i long to have the depth of faith they had.
Sounds like knowing these people was God’s gift to you. Even in their death you have not lost their example and testimony of faith. That can still inspire you. Bless you.
Thank you for these words. I follow your blog on a regular basis but this is my first time commenting. This summer has been extremely painful for my family. Sin is far reaching-it affects more than just than the person committing the sin. However, my God is stronger! I have been on my knees more this summer than my entire life. Through prayer and reading the Bible, God has reminded me several times over the past couple of months that good can come from bad. He also reminded me the other day, that He started a good work in the lives of my children, therefore, He will complete His good work. I am hanging onto this truth!
You are finding deeper faith in the midst of the firer trials. Keep trusting in the Lord.