Why Do We Need Tears?..Whitney Hopler

 Why Do We Need Tears?

By Whitney Hopler

“Jesus wept.” – John 11:35 (NIV)

Tears flowed from my son Justin’s eyes when he told me that one of his preschool buddies would be moving to another state and they’d never get to play with each other again. I reached out to wipe away his tears. But he told me: “No, Mommy, don’t. I need my tears.” His comment stopped me. What good were tears? I saw them only as unfortunate reminders of pain. As much as possible, I avoided crying since crying seemed like a weakness to me. But as I watched Justin continue to cry, I wondered if tears may be more than just something to brush away.

Tears are a natural response to the pain we encounter in our fallen world. Crying is a vital way for us to let the energy of our emotions move through us so we can heal and learn from them. Research shows we can experience many well-being benefits from crying, including relieving stress and pain, improving our mood, and releasing toxins. Jesus cried after the death of his friend Lazarus. When Jesus saw Lazarus’ sister Mary and other people crying, “he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (John 11:6 NIV). Then, when Jesus saw Lazarus’ body, he cried (John 11:35 NIV). People who saw Jesus cry commented, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36 NIV). 

Crying is a way to express compassion as well as sorrow. Since Jesus let his tears flow, we can do the same. Jesus is our ultimate source of strength. His example shows us that crying isn’t a sign of weakness – but of strength. We need our tears to express our emotions in healthy ways. So the next time you feel the need to cry, don’t hesitate to let your tears flow. Our tears matter to God. He even carefully notes every tear we cry. Psalm 56:8 CEV says: “You have kept a record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.” God says in Isaiah 38:5 NIV: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.”

God experienced sorrow just like we do when he lived among us as Jesus. He is deeply concerned about the pain his beloved children go through. God has something valuable to teach us when we cry – something we couldn’t learn without honestly expressing our sorrow. Crying can be a healthy spiritual practice that allows us to connect with our emotions and deepen our relationship with God. Letting our tears flow when we’re sad isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. The Bible teaches us crying is a natural and necessary expression of our humanity, and Jesus shows us it’s good to cry when we’re feeling sorrow. 

When we allow ourselves to cry, we can be confident God will be there to comfort us. Not only that, but God will transform our tears into joy. Psalm 126:5 reveals that “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” That’s possible because we can find joy anytime we pay attention to God’s presence with us. Crying can be a powerful way to welcome God’s presence into any situation that makes us feel sad. So, the next time you feel the urge to cry, don't be afraid to let your emotions out and turn to God for strength and comfort. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
As you reflect on the gift of tears, consider these questions:

• When was the last time you cried? What triggered your tears? Did you talk with God about that situation?
• Do you feel uncomfortable letting your tears flow? Or does crying help you feel better?
• What coping mechanisms do you use when you feel sad but don’t cry? Are those strategies helpful or harmful in the long run?
• How can you ask God to help you be compassionate toward yourself when you’re feeling sad and need to cry?
• What lessons can you learn from your experiences with crying and feeling sad? How can you use those insights to grow closer to God and become more resilient?
• How can you comfort or support others when they’re crying?

Further Reading:

• Psalm 34:15
• Psalm 34:17
• Psalm 39:12
• Matthew 5:4
• Revelation 21:4

The Next Right Thing..Brent Rinehart

 The Next Right Thing (2 Chronicles 20:12)

By Brent Rinehart

“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

When King Jehoshaphat learned that three armies were joining forces to invade Judah, he was rightfully afraid. He didn’t know what to do, but his next steps are a great example for all of us.

He assembled the people, and he began to pray: “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you…If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. (2 Chronicles 20: 6, 9 and 12b).

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

Do you ever feel like this? The weight of the world is on your shoulders. You don’t know what to do or which way to turn.

I don’t make a habit of taking life lessons from Disney movies, but one of my daughter’s favorite is Frozen 2. In the film, Anna is devasted as she thinks her sister Elsa is dead. She doesn’t know what to do. She sings: “I won't look too far ahead, it's too much for me to take. But, break it down to this next breath, this next step, this next choice is one that I can make. So, I'll walk through this night stumbling blindly toward the light, and do the next right thing. And, with it done, what comes then? When it's clear that everything will never be the same again, then I'll make the choice to hear that voice, and do the next right thing.”

The next right thing. It’s really that simple. We don’t have to know the outcome or what the pathway looks like 20 steps ahead. We have to take that next step and keep moving forward.

For those of us who know the Lord, that next right thing is keeping our eyes on Him and seeking his counsel. We may not know what to do, but there is always something we know we can do. Just like King Jehoshaphat, we can approach the throne of God and seek His wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

And, that’s the beautiful thing: God listens and will answer. The Lord answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer. “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

Whatever battle you are facing today, seek God. You may not know what to do, but you can do the next right thing. You can seek God, and trust that He will listen and answer. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

A Prayer to Put in the Hard Heart Work..Laura Bailey

 A Prayer to Put in the Hard Heart Work

By Laura Bailey

“You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” - Matthew 12:34-35

My husband and I were in a heated debate; unable to contain my frustration, I let words slip I knew I would immediately regret. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that,” I quickly spouted, hoping to soften the blow. Except, I did mean what I said; I just hadn’t meant to say it out loud. Has that ever happened to you? Has an internal thought ever worked its way out of your lips before you had a chance to stop it? Perhaps pent-up resentment and anger bubbled up and spilled out in your speech before you could reign them back in? Or maybe, like me, in the height of your emotions, you accidentally spewed words your heart has wanted to say for a long time, only to feel the pain of regret once they were out in the open.

Scripture speaks a lot about our words; books like Proverbs spend many verses warning us about the dangers of carelessly spoken speech. However, God’s desire isn’t just for us to control our tongues but to deal with the root problem of loose lips, our hearts. In Matthew, 12:34-35 Jesus tells us that what is in our hearts will determine how we speak and act. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their general hypocrisy and, in this case, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. However, in the greater context of these verses, Jesus teaches that a person’s actions (or speech) represent what is in their heart. Our speech and actions are an overflow of what is really in our hearts and minds. It isn’t enough to control the words that come out of our mouths (which is essential); the more significant way to prevent potential speech slip-ups is by having a good heart. 

Understanding the word “good” in these verses doesn’t imply sinlessness; instead, a person actively tries to do God’s will and walk in step with the Spirit. Sometimes we say the wrong thing, quickly speak and listen slowly, but these should be the exception, not the norm in the believer's life.  We will not always get it right, but as we put in the hard, heart work, even under pressure, our words and actions will demonstrate a life led by the Spirit. As we renew our minds daily through Bible reading, prayer, and meditation, our hearts will begin to align more with God’s desires than our own, and eventually, so will our speech. 

Let’s Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, help us as we seek to honor you with both our hearts and words. You know what’s in our hearts and minds, and we ask that you forgive us our sins and help us seek to be more like you in all we say and do. As it says in Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Lord, we ask for healing in relationships that our careless words have strained or possibly severed. Grant us humility in asking for forgiveness, and we pray reconciliation is possible. Let us use our words to encourage and build up the body of believers instead of tearing down and discouraging.  May we allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us, leaning into the power of the Spirit. We ask our hearts be filled with fruits of the spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, so our lives will produce good fruit. Thank you for loving us even when we fail. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Trained to Discern..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Trained to Discern

Dr. Charles Stanley

Hebrews 5:11-14

In today's world, impatience is all too common a trait. We want food, help, and information fast. Just waiting for the computer to boot up or the "next avail-able agent" to answer our call can cause frustration. But the Lord specializes in slow, steady work. He's more interested in a quality outcome than a speedy process.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of spiritual discernment. When we become Christians, we aren't instantly wise and knowledgeable. It takes a lifetime to grow to maturity. Some believers, however, don't seem to grow up at all. They get older, but their understanding of God's Word never goes very deep.

This lack of godly wisdom is caused by ignorance of the Scriptures, apathy and complacency about spiritual things, and a failure to apply biblical truths. Discernment requires time and effort. You can't simply move through life, thoughtlessly reacting to situations yet never learning from them. Take time to reflect on your responses and observe the consequences of your actions and choices. If you feel convicted by what you notice, let that motivate you to begin a lifelong pursuit of the Lord and His ways. Start reading the Bible regularly. And as you do, ask the Lord to open your heart and mind to understand what He's saying.

But just reading God's Word isn't enough. Without applying what you've read, all you'll have is head knowledge. Obedience trains us to discern good and evil. Through practice, we learn wisdom and develop spiritual maturity. If you'll begin today and patiently persevere, in time discernment will come.