Sacred Tears: A Poem
You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? "
— The psalmist David, Psalm 56:8Why Does God Treasure Our Tears?
Tears are precious to God, I believe, because they are the outward flow of an inward pain or joy in the heart that He created. He cherishes them so much the psalmist says that He collects them in His bottle and into His book.
The tears of my children and grandchildren are sacred to me. I value them because they are the outpouring of their hearts. I hurt when they hurt. And if they are weeping in joy, I celebrate with them. The Bible says "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).
Jesus shed tears. He wept at Lazarus' tomb. He wept as he looked out over Jerusalem in the distance, mourning her future. In Hebrews 5:7 we read, "While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God." I imagine those loud cries and tears were shed in those times when he went out to lonely places to pray, interceding for the people.
Tears were God's idea. He gave human beings the ability to cry. The Bible says we are made in His image. We also hear over and over that God's heart was broken by His wandering people. Because God weeps from a broken heart, we do so too. That is why He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).
We shed tears for many reasons. Children cry when they get hurt, are disappointed, scared, rejected, and chastised, to name a few. Adults cry in sorrow for a loss, when angry, afraid, overwhelmed and overjoyed. They weep in hysterical laughter (my favorite kind), when their feelings are hurt, or in repentance. Please know, God savors those tears as sacred. Tears can be healing, they drain the sorrow and pain out of your heart, at least for a short time. Have you ever heard the term "a good cry?" Like "I feel so much better after a good cry." Tears are cleansing and relieving. Don't resist tears, let them flow.
Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning."
— David, Psalm 30:5Sacred Tears
Tears are sacred streams
of desperate pain
Brimming out of the heart
into God's tear bottle
cherished and stored in His book
where they'll stay forever
Tears are sacred ointments
as Gilead balms and cassia
myrrh for the suffering
anointing oil of olives
and the new wine
of the Holy Spirit
Tears are sacred elements
of a contrite heart
flowing tributaries
of confession and repentance
into the glad surrender
of a forgiving God
Tears are sacred pleas
for the yoke of His rest
to be held in His hands
as the lone lost sparrow
to be our rod and staff
in the valleys of dark shadows
Tears are sacred testaments
of grace upon grace
mercy and pardon
the blood of redemption
shed by the Savior
the remission of sins
Tears are sacred emblems
of promises of refreshment
for renewed faith from
a once stagnant heart
hope has come
it will fail us not
Questions & Answers
© 2019 Lori Colbo
Comments
I was thinking of a Micahel Card song that says, ". . . human tears are older than the rain." They go all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Thanks for your thoughts in poetry form. So nicely done!
Beautifully expressed and heart touching!
When in distress, I usually hold back my tears before others, but in front of the Almighty, it’s not possible for me to do so. I believe, he listens and helps.
A wonderful poem about the tears. Thank You for sharing!
Wonderful and most heartfelt verse. Even though I always let the Lord guide me at the most difficult times I reach for His hand and hold on the tightest.
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