Weeping


Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

I wept many more tears when I was young than I do now. I wept when I was unjustly punished, when my friends made fun of me, when my mother had long term illness, when I felt deprived of something I really wanted. I have wept for my children, for my relationship struggles in my marriage, for the death of my parents and of my friends’ children. I have wept over the loss of a friendship, over the death of my daughter’s marriage and over my own sin. There are many reasons to weep and mourn, but weeping does not need to continue if we know the Lord, the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others with the comfort we receive from Him.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Tears are our emotional release – God created them for a purpose and we need never be ashamed of tears, they are so precious God keeps them in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). But life goes on and, if we know the God of all comfort, we know that he longs to comfort us and replace our tears with joy. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to grieve and a time to dance. Our grief is not to consume us. We are to receive God’s comfort and receive His joy for the joy of the Lord is our strength for service (Nehemiah 8:10). We must move on.

It is a problem if you stay in your grief – perhaps you have not allowed God to bring you forgiveness or take away your guilt for something you once said or did to your loved one, and now they are gone. God can release you from that guilt, you can be free. You can ask Him for forgiveness and then let Him clothe you with the garment of praise which will replace that spirit of heaviness.

Weep in the darkness but let the hope of the morning dry your tears and bring you joy. Life must go on. There are things for you to do – others for you to share with who need your comfort. You have a gift to give – you know what it’s like to weep and mourn - whatever your situation has been there is someone experiencing something similar. You can share with them the comfort that God has previously comforted you with, if you have learned first how to receive it. Arise wounded one, let Jesus wipe away your tears and strengthen your heart. Let your tears be a springboard to bring wisdom, courage, blessing and hope to others. He will be with you. His joy will be your strength.

Prayer: Dear Father, comfort me and dry my tears – help me to see the hope of better days. Give me courage to use my grief to help others. Let the lessons I have learned through this time of weeping become precious seed that I can sow into the lives of others to bring them hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen