Everyone has them, and most of us just want them to end. For me, that is not happening; so I am left with a journey I call "living through the crying days". At least I am not traveling this road alone. Jesus fights my battles for me when I think to ask Him, and the Holy Spirit consoles me as the tears flow.
Whether illness, grief, loneliness, or unwelcome burdens - sometimes one can only cry. Our Heavenly Father knew this, of course, before He even created the cosmos. He lovingly created tears for all broken-hearted souls. The ancients collected tears in bottles as highly prized keepsakes.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle, are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know, for Elohim (Supreme God) is for me. In Elohim will I praise his word: in Yahweh (Self-Existent; Eternal; Jehovah) will I praise his word. In Elohim have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O Elohim: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before Elohim in the light of the living? ~ Psalms 56:8-13 RSB (Parentheses added)
The act of crying has a bad rep in many circles. "What good does it do?" "Just buck up and take it on the chin!" "Crying doesn't solve anything!" But God's Word is clear:
The prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah in 713 B.C. that Hezekiah would soon die. Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed for mercy:
And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of Yahweh to Isaiah, saying, “Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Yahweh, the Elohim of David, thy father, I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.” ~ Isaiah 38:3b-6 RSB
So Almighty God not only added fifteen years to the life of Hezekiah, but He vowed to deliver the Israelites out of the hands of the invading Assyrians and to fight the battle for them. Wow! Hezekiah hadn't even prayed for that!
Our God is SO GOOD! He promises to one day create a new heaven and a new earth. There will be no more crying days.
And Elohim 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 RSB
Today there are reported over 900,000 believers martyred every year on this earth. These are Crying Days, folks. Don't hold back on the prayers or tears for our persecuted brethren suffering for their faith in Christ; for our nation in peril; and for those lost and on their way to eternal outer darkness. These crying days are the last days before Christ returns. Pray tearfully for the sick, the dying, the poor and the needy. Remember to love one another as He loves us and in the words of Jesus, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Few of us are called upon to make that level of sacrifice, but prayer changes things. Sincere prayer can even change the will of Almighty God, as we have seen in the case of Hezekiah.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for meeting our every need with your tender Spirit of love and truth; for hearing the prayers of your church; and for noticing tears of the humble being shed during sorrowful days. We look forward in faith to victory in the Only One Who Fights Our Battles For Us - our Savior and Redeemer, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus The Anointed One. In His Holy Precious Name Above All Names, Amen.
I pray that you are encouraged by God’s Word as you are living through your own crying days - whatever they may be. God bless you.
Try listening to this post on The Fragrance of Christ Stitcher podcast, "2022 - New Beginnings Part 8"
PC: Can Stock Photo Inc/stakkete
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