A prayer for a season of tears

Read

‘Be merciful to me, my God…
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise –
In God I trust and am not afraid…
Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll –
are they not in your record?’ (Psalm 56:1, 3-4, 8, NIV)

‘Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.’ (Psalm 126:5-6, NIV)

‘Jesus wept’ (John 11:35, NIV)

‘Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell 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.”’ (Revelation 21:1-4)

Think

The God of the Bible is not distant or dispassionate. He is not indifferent to our sufferings. He knows what it is like to shed tears, and each of our tears is precious to Him. He records them, collects them, and He alone is able to turn them into a harvest of joy. 

Prayerfully reflect on some of these questions, and write down any thoughts that the Holy Spirit inspires:

• Picture Jesus weeping at the grave of his friend. How does it make you feel to know that God Himself has shed tears of sorrow?
• Reflect on the metaphor of sowing or planting your tears. In what ways can you proactively channel your sorrow, as an act of faith in God?
• How does the idea of God collecting your tears give you comfort? And how can you remind yourself, when you weep in solitude, that God sees and records every tear?

Speak

Be merciful God,
In whom I trust.
Still my heart,
And draw me close to you.

You have kept track
Of my tossing and turning.
You have watched over me
Through every sleepless night.
You have captured all my tears
And kept them in a bottle;
Not one has fallen,
Wasted on the ground.

My cries have not
Gone unheard or unnoticed,
But each has been recorded
In your holy book.
I plant my sorrows in your presence,
And water them with my tears,
Trusting that in your timing,
They will yield a harvest of joy.

God of comfort,
Who knows what it is to weep,
And will one day wipe away every tear:
Give us eyes of faith,
To see your goodness;

Anoint our lips
To sing your praise;
Strengthen our feet
To keep from stumbling,
And cause our minds
To hope for better days. 

Amen

Share

We were never intended to do life alone. The church should be a place where we bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15). This week, why not reach out to friends around you, perhaps those from your Connect Group or church community, and share in one of the following ways:

• Tell a trusted friend how you are feeling in this season, and ask for their support and prayer. Many people will be willing and ready to comfort you, if you take the courageous step of letting them know the sorrow you are experiencing. 
• Ask God to show you people around you who may be in a season of tears. Reach out and ask them how they are, daring to take the conversation beneath the superficial level. Ask if you can pray for them and walk with them through this season.