Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Psalm 56:8
We all shed tears from time to time. Whether they are happy, sad, angry, frustrated or even silent, at some point in life we have them. Tears play an important part of our makeup. Our Creator knew that our human bodies needed this body water to cleanse us in many areas. It means so much to Him, that He sees every one and collects them in a bottle.
Noah Webster defines tears as a clear liquid that is secreted from a small gland (lacrymal gland) in the eye. They are excited by passions, particularly grief. This fluid is called forth by injury to the eye. It serves to moisten the cornea and preserve its transparency, and to remove any dust or fine substance that enters the eye and gives pain. Tears are our body’s natural cleansing for both eye and soul of passions.
Tears come and go. Some people can turn them on and off like a light switch, while some just hardly ever shed them. Nevertheless, all of our tears are gathered in His bottle. Why are they so important to the Lord that He saves every single one? Let’s look to His Word to find out what He has to say about our tears.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18
There is something about our tears that draws the Lord to us. Our hearts being broken into pieces tug on His heart. God is love, and in His infinite love, He can’t help but be drawn to His creation in their time of need. He sees past our tears and knows our heart. That’s why He is the Only One who can help and give grace in our time of heartache.
Here are some different tears recorded in the Bible.
Tears for Healing. 2 Kings 20:5 “Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.” Hezekiah’s cry for healing. How many of us have been touched with hearing those words from the doctor? Or your loved one received this news? God sees our tears for healing. He bottles them up.
Tears for Mercy. Esther 8:3 “And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.” Esther’s cry for mercy. God saw her tears and granted deliverance for His people. Our cries for mercy are heard and collected. He sees our tears for our nation, He is bottling those up. Keep praying those tears of mercy for America, Christian!
Tears of Hurt. Job 16:20 “ My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.” Job’s tears of hurt. Words hurt, but they hurt deeper when they come from a friend. Our Lord is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He knows what we are going through and is always there to listen as we shed tears of hurt.
Tears of Grief. John 11:31 “The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.” Mary’s tears of grief. We all have different ways we handle the death of a loved one. Don’t hold it in my friend, go to Jesus. He cares, He is there to help as you shed those tears of loss.
Tears of Joy. Psalm 128:5 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Answered prayers of joy. Everyone has something they long for, whether it’s a loved one to be saved, need to be met that matters just to you. God hears the prayers you pray. He sees your tears of request. He will answer. In His time. In His will. How sweet is it when the tears of joy fall?! There’s just something so wonderful about knowing that answer came from none other than your Lord. My friend He puts these tears into His bottle as well.
There are so many different tears we shed but the ones I am the most grateful for that He sees and gathers are the Tears of Repentance. Luke 18:13 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” When I humbled myself September 17, 1996 and knelt to Him confessing I was nothing but a sinner. He saw those tears of repentance and gave me mercy that day. Those tears led to a changed life, a changed destination and changed tears.
When I cry I have SOMEONE who listens, who cares, who solves my problems. I have SOMEONE who not only catches every tear I cry but will one day wipe them all away!
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:4
Glory to God! Hallelujah!!!
