A List Of Tears

A List of Tears

"Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll -- are they not on your record?"

Psalm 56:8

Think of all the tears you've ever cried. That time at recess when you weren't picked for Dodgeball.. The Saturday night of the Prom when you sat home alone. The job interview that went sour. The time your neighbor down the street told you to "quit talking about religion." The day your father died. Your spouse left.

You may have thought no one noticed your red eyes. Not so. God saw. What's more, He has every intention of rewarding your endurance through that pain. Why else would He meticulously chronicle every one of your tears?

Every tear you've cried - think of it - will be redeemed. God will give you indescribable glory for your grief. Not with a general wave of the hand, but in a considered and specific way. Each tear has been listed; each will be recompensed. We know how valuable our tears are in His sight - when the woman anointed Jesus with the valuable perfume, it was her tears with which she washed His feet that moved Him most powerfully (Luke 7:44). The worth of our weeping is underscored again in Revelation 21:4 where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes." It won't be the duty of angels or others. It'll be God's.

I've cried a few times over not having use of my hands (though nowhere near like I used to). I think it's ironic that on the day in heaven, when I finally get back use of my hands so that I can dry my own tears... I won't have to.

Make a list of the times you've cried from hurt, disappointment or physical pain in the last few years. How might God recompense you? Did you cry tears in the midst of praise or prayer? These tears have special power with God, as we saw from Luke 7:44.

Thank You for numbering my tears and recording in your books the pain I have experienced. Nothing - not even my crying - will be wasted. Bless You for that.


Blessings, Joni and Friends www.joniandfriends.org