Praying My Tears

Psalm 39:12-13 (NIV) “Hear my prayer, O Lord, Listen to my cry for help; Be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were. Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more.”

Psalm 126:1-6 (NIV) 1When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, We were like men who dreamed. 2Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 6He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Options for your emotions:

Stuffing them – The religious way

Embracing them – The secular way

The gospel way

Processing them in the presence of God.

What does the bible say about my “tears”?

1. I should expect tears.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 (ESV) And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT) And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

2. I should invest my tears.

Psalm 30:5 (NLT) Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

3. I should pray my tears.

Always with:

A realization of God’s grace.

Psalm 16:9-11 (NIV) Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 17:15 (NIV) And I-in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake. I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

A vision of the cross.

Matthew 26:38 (ESV) Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

Matthew 27:46 (NLT) At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,j lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

An assurance of glory.

Talk it Over

Has God ever done something so great you had to pinch yourself to see if you were dreaming?

How does God tend to answer your prayers? Is it a flash flood or a long growing season?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:17. How does this verse help you cope with your present troubles or anxieties?

Has God turned a time of tears and wailing for you into a time of dancing? Was it “overnight”, surprising you with joy? Or did your mood swings level out gradually?

What do you appreciate most about Jesus’ emotions in Matthew 26:28?

Parents: Read Psalms 30:4-5. Have each family member share a moment that made them sad, and then how long it took for them to be happy. (Grown ups can go first to share an example for the little ones.) Psalm 30:4-5 tells us that sadness is like the night, and everything seems dark. But God says joy will come in the morning! It’s like a bright new day and you will feel happy again. Remember that God is with you even in the sad times. He has good things planned for you.