Lord, wipe away those
tears
It
was a tough day. In the morning, I put my face on the carpet and prayed, but my
heart was so heavy that my prayers were mostly groans, wordless sighs. In the
afternoon, I spent time with three elderly Christians; one, in her 90’s, fell at
home last week. She is so fearful of not being able to return to her home. We
cried together. Another, in the grip of dementia, was in her bed at the home
where she lives. When I entered her room, her face brightened. “I like seeing
you,” she said kindly, though I do not think she knows my name. She held my
hand tightly as we prayed. The third awaits death, confined by weakness. Tears fell
down her cheeks as we asked the Lord to be her peace. Another family talked
about spiritual crisis in their child’s life reinforcing my deep concern for
how we, Christ’s Church, are handing off the faith to the next generation.
The
Psalmist cries to the Lord: "You have fed us with sorrow and made us
drink tears by the bucketful." (Psalm 80:5, NLT) "My tears
have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is
your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with
the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy
and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why
so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my
Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember
you." (Psalm 42:3-6, NIV) That’s NOT just beautiful poetry! Those prayers are mine! With great hope I cry out,
"Restore our fortunes, O LORD… Those who sow in tears will reap with
songs of joy." (Psalm 126:4-5, NIV)
Do
not confuse sorrow with despair. There is a difference! Despair is hopelessness,
but deep sorrow is a fertile place where faith can grow, where God can be
found. "The Lord is close to the
brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm
34:18, NLT) I love the Hebrew in that
passage. Where we read ‘crushed’ the word means ‘turned to dust.’ Yes, sorrow grinds us down, but God makes
beautiful things from the dust, as the song says.
There
is so much suffering in this world which is so broken by sin. But, we know that
God sent His Son Jesus to save us- from our sins and from the destiny of
destruction. And, when His kingdom comes, tears will dry. When the
struggle’s over, God will draw us close! "I heard a loud voice
from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live
with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be
their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more
death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed
away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then
he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
(Revelation 21:3-5, NIV) Oh, happy day!
Are
you crying? Is your heart broken? The natural response is to find some
diversion, some way to avoid sorrow. Instead, let yourself feel the suffering
and enter into it with Christ at your
side.
Don’t
try to numb your soul by turning up the noise or burying yourself in pleasure.
Those things offer no balm for the soul. Instead, wait on God. Sit quietly. Let
tears flow. Accept the love of friend and family, even from those who offer clichés
and pats on the back. Perhaps they have never hurt in the way that you do but
they mean well. Pray for protection from cynicism that turns people into ugly,
self-absorbed, and mean being!
Suffering
can make us into beautiful people; full of grace, tender, and with an
other-worldly grip on eternity. I smiled as one of the women with whom I was
visiting said, “You are a much better Pastor these days. You know how we feel
when we are sad.” I hope she speaks the truth.
My own spiritual journey has taken me through some dark valleys.
And
remember … “He will wipe every
tear” from our eyes. Gordon Jensen wrote a song with this memorable
line, “God weeps along with man and takes him by the hand, tears are a
language God understands.” Are the tears ready to fall today?
Has the disappointment, the pain, the unrelenting struggle with the curse of
sin nearly broken you in two? Find a
place alone with Him and let the tears fall, each a wordless prayer for renewal
of hope, for healing, for forgiveness. Then, with courage, give yourself,
your situation, your life, your kids- to the Lord who reigns over all. He will
give you the grace you need, for this day.
"The Lord is close to the
brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm
34:18, NLT)
_______________
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great is Thy
faithfulness,
O God, my Father.
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not,
Thy compassions they
fail not.
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be!
Summer and winter
And springtime and
harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars
In their courses above;
Join with all nature
In manifold witness,
To Thy great
faithfulness,
Mercy and love!
Pardon for sin
And a peace that
endureth;
Thy own dear presence
To cheer and to guide.
Strength for today
And bright hope for
tomorrow,
Blessings all mine
With ten thousand
beside!
Great is Thy
faithfulness!
Great is Thy
faithfulness!
Morning by morning,
New mercies I see.
All I have needed,
Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy
faithfulness,
Lord, unto me!
Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan
© Words: 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company
Music: 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company
CCLI License # 810055
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