Sometimes all you can do is cry.
Now, that’s not a bad thing—crying often releases stored up emotions and you actually feel better once they are out. But don’t we wonder if anyone really cares about our tears? Don’t we wonder if our tears will really accomplish anything? After all, when we finish crying the problem or pain that led to the crying is still there. We might feel better but our reality hasn’t changed.
Or has it?
David in Psalm 56 was at a point in his life where all he could do was cry—and call out to the Lord. Try as he might, he couldn’t fix his situation. He couldn’t strategize a way out. All that was left were his tears as his adversaries hunted him down to attack him in their pride (v2). But David points out that his tears did not go unnoticed, but rather Almighty God would remember and record them. “Record my lament,” David cried, “list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?” (vs. 8) The scroll or possibly a better translation, wineskin, is the visual David gives as his tears are noted in heaven. In 2 Kings 20:5 and Jeremiah 31:18 we are told that God hears, sees, and responds to the tears of His people. That was something that David knew as well. Someone did notice his tears during that season of life when people were twisting his words (v5) and conspiring against him
(v6).
Those were lonely days but David was not alone. The Creator not only saw David’s tears but sustained and delivered him (v13).
The difference between tears that fall meaninglessly and tears that move heaven is two words: pride and trust. Pride says “I’ll fix it or worry about it until I can find a way out.” Trust says “God—you’ve got this one. I release my situation to You and You alone.” Trust will drive us to God’s word (vv4, 10) that we might turn our focus to praise. Trust keeps on keeping on, serving Him despite our circumstances (v12).
Can our tears really make a difference? They can when turn to God and trust Him to store our tears in His bottle and respond to them in His time.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.
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