Tears Are A Language

My young adult child was in deep sin. My heart was shattered with grieving over the path that they had taken. I found myself crying out to God, putting Him in remembrance of His Promises concerning my family. The tears poured from my eyes, until soon, I realized that the carpet beneath me was causing my socks to be saturated with my tears. I had never cried so much as I did that day. I used to sing a song in church with my sister when we were young. It is called “Tears Are a Language, God Understands.” You can hear this on YouTube, sung by the Heritage singers. Here are the lyrics:

Often you wonder why

Tears come into your eyes

And burdens seem to be more than you can stand

But God is standing near

He sees your falling tears

Tears are a language. God understands.

God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul

He sees your tears

And hears them when they fall

God weeps along with man

And takes him by the hand

Tears are a language. God understands.

When grief has left you low

It causes tears to flow

And things have not turned out the way you had planned

But God won’t forget you

His promises are true

Tears are a language. God understands.

Where do we think that tears come from anyway? Our God gave to us the ability to cry. I have seen that many Christians feel that they must not shed tears, or they will be looked upon as having no faith; or doubting God’s Word. We even call our funerals Celebration services. Yes, we can celebrate that a loved one is now with Jesus, but I don’t have to hold back my tears when my heart is breaking over the departure of the one I loved. “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 God is for me” (Ps. 56:8&9). In other words, “Lord, You see me wherever I may go. I am hunted by the enemy, the devil; and You see the dangers that stare at me. Put my tears into thy bottle.” There was an ancient custom among the Greeks and Romans. Tears that were shed for the death of any person were gathered into lacrymatories; small containers made of glass, pottery, or agate, sardonyx, etc. The tears in the bottle were there for a remembrance of the time that one was brokenhearted over the death of a loved one. “Are they not in thy book?” In other words, “Lord, you have taken account of all my tears that I have shed.”

Now, notice v.9. “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.” I may have tears streaming down my cheeks; but when I cry out to God, not letting Him go because He has given to me a Promise, He is Faithful to minister His comfort to my heart and to drive back the enemy’s strategies and deceits. Amen! We read in Psalms 126:5&6, Amp., “They that sow in tears shall reap with joyful singing. He who goes back and forth weeping, carrying his bag of seed [for planting], Will indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” I wept for my child but sowed the Word over and over with many tears; but in time, my harvest came. That child came back to Jesus and my tears were turned into joy. (to be continued.)