Daily Excerpt: God Speaks into Darkness (Easterling): Your Tears Matter in Heaven





Excerpt from God Speaks into Darkness 

Your Tears Matter in Heaven

Inspired by Psalm 126

My wife Dot keeps in her Bible a gold-embossed bookmark with these words, “All the beauty in the world is in your smile.” As we do our daily devotions, I like to pull that little reminder out and show it to her. It always brings the response I’m looking for—her wonderful warm and loving smile.

The only thing that moves me more is her tears. It breaks my heart to see her cry—all the more so if I have caused it by some thoughtless word. Can you relate to this? Those you love are the very ones who can wound you the deepest—and you can do the same to them. In a word, tears of those we love matter. Likewise, we break God’s tender heart when we ignore or reject him:

“High on the windswept mountains, I hear voices crying, crying. It is my children who have turned their backs on me. They have wandered far away and become lost. They are disoriented and destitute. O my rebellious children, come back to me and I will forgive your sins. Only acknowledge your guilt; admit that you have failed to follow me. O sinful children come home. And they replied, ‘Yes, Father, we will come back, for you are the Lord our God.’” (Jeremiah 3:21-22)

Dear one, God has spoken; your tears matter in heaven. When the Jews were enslaved in Egypt, being beaten and abused by cruel taskmasters, they cried out for mercy. Pharaoh hardened his heart so his ears were shut tight, but Jehovah heard those tortured cries and sent Moses to rescue them.

When Rachel was weeping for her children, slaughtered by heartless King Herod, God saw their tears and comforted them. 

Christ was a man of tears. At Lazarus’ tomb, he was deeply troubled by the crushing grief that death brings. Jesus wept. His Father heard his agonized praying, saw his tears, and gave him the power to call his friend back to life. When he looked out over Jerusalem, the Holy City that had rejected him, he wept because they refused to turn back to God, and Jesus was grieved knowing they would suffer the tragic consequences. In Gethsemane, the Lamb of God prayed in anguish and his sweat was like great drops of blood before his crucifixion. On Easter morning, the Holy Spirit gave him the power to defeat death.

In Psalm 126, God has restored his people from exile. Yet, still heartbroken and bruised, they begin replanting their lost crops, weeping as they go. God refreshes their hearts with this glorious promise:

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. Yes, you go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, but one day you will return singing, bringing in your harvest.”

Moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers weeping for their wayward children have been encouraged for centuries with the thought that one day their prayers will be answered, and they will come joyfully bringing those lost loved ones back to God.

What is weighing you down? Fear, uncertainty, sickness, sorrow?  Maybe one you deeply love has walked away from God, becoming trapped in sin? Does it comfort you to know that God sees your tears and hears your weeping—that he stores your tears in a bottle?

Jesus, once a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, is now at the Father’s side interceding for you. Your tears break through the heavens and touch his heart. Yes, your High Priest feels your pain. Your tears may fall unheeded in this world but not in the world beyond.

 

Thank you, Abba Father that you care so tenderly for us— that not a single tear escapes your notice.  

THIS BOOK EARNED THE BEST RELIGION BOOK/PINNACLE BOOK ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.


For more posts about Bennett Easterling and his books, click HERE


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