BLESSINGS CORNER

What do you think when you think about TEARS?

Most of us are pretty educated in regards to different bodily functions. We know that tears are part of the divine construction of this human body. We know that part of their function is to overflow the eyes, when you feel great stress or pain. We also know that tears lubricate the eyes to prevent dryness.  They consist mostly of water, mucus, and oil from the lacrimal gland in the eye. Science tells us there are three kinds of tears:

• Basal tears: used for lubricating the eyes. 
• Reflex tears: protects the eye from irritations, such as smoke, onions, and harsh chemicals.
• Emotional tears: these tears contain a chemical called “prolactin” which some scientists say releases endorphins to your body that can relieve stress, pain and work to improve mood. 

Let’s look few moments into God’s plan for the “tears”.  Just think for a moment about this wonderful “tool” that has been given to us by our Creator. 

When we are dealing with the difficult things in our lives and our emotions reach a level that causes our eyes to begin to “tear up”, next time this happens, thank our God for HIS provision for us to cope with stress and pain. 

One of the most famous scriptures in the Bible is John 11:35 “Jesus wept”. Interestingly, Jesus, who was the most “manly” man ever, was not ashamed to weep or to be seen weeping.  Also, in Luke 19:41, ‘Now as HE (Jesus) drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.”  Real men do weep and pray just as Jesus did and not be ashamed to do either. 

One of the most famous psalms is 126. In this Psalm, there are lessons for us to remember about our prayer life and the wonderful “tool” of tears combined with prayer. In this Psalms is an emotional cry from the children of Israel to find release from their captivity. “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping Bearing seed for sowing. Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing.” 

Tears are like seeds sown for the good of the Kingdom of God. Tears can also are evidence of ‘brokenness’ in a person’s life. Tears and brokenness go hand in hand with the ministry of prayer. In a famous quote by Charles H. Spurgeon, he talks of ‘the ministry of tears’, which he defines as “liquid prayer”. 

From the footnotes in my bible, I will share about the six types of prayers     accompanied with “tears”:

* Tears of sorrow or suffering-(2 Kin. 20:5)

* Tears of Joy-(Gen 33:4)

* Tears of compassion-(John 11:35)

* Tears of desperation-(Est 4:1,3)

* Tears of travail-(Isa. 42:14)

* Tears of repentance-(Joel 2:12,13)

God has given us a way to release strong emotions in prayer and through our ‘tears’. When you weep over a ‘need’ you  are somehow connected to that need like never before; Psalms 56:8 “Put my tears in your bottle”.

In the book of Jeremiah, who is affectionately known as the “weeping prophet”, v 9:1 says, “Oh that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people.” 

The book Acts records some incidents where Paul admonished the church with strong words and tears, showing us that the burden that he carried in his heart was often overwhelming.   Acts 20:31 “……I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears”; 2 Corinthians 2:4 “For out of much afflictions and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.”

These are just a few examples of some  who paid in blood, and tears, for our faith. Thanks be to our God who has made a way for us to not be afraid to shed a few tears in prayer for each other’s needs. 

Yet, there is coming a day when all will be accomplished for the Lord and HE will wipe all tears from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Rev 21:4).  But until that day, we must join with Paul, and all the saints down through the ages, in prayer and many tears for the children of God to be set free, and for people everywhere to be released from the tyranny of slavery and find salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah 65:19 “I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her Nor the voice of crying “.

Do not fear to feel passion and tears in praying for others or for nations. Our God has given us all we need to fulfill this ministry on this earth until HE says “All is finished”!

~Gerry Cooley