By Pastor Naomi Mitchell
For Carter County Times
Have you ever felt you were on the edge of tears, just needing a good cry? You didn’t know why you were feeling that way. Other times you have cried a lot from bad news or felt a great burden about something or someone. The Bible offers comfort regarding tears, emphasizing that God sees, collects, and will eventually wipe away every tear. Psalm 56:8 (God bottles our tears) indicates that no tear is wasted, and they are precious to God. Revelation 21:4 (no more tears in heaven), and Matthew 5:4 (blessed are those who mourn) are verses that highlight divine comfort for sorrow. Even Jesus wept!
Psalm 56:8 speaks of David’s trust in God’s intimate awareness of his life and sufferings. The verse reads: “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” Here, “wanderings” refers to David’s movements and trials, often during times of danger or persecution, such as fleeing from enemies. The phrase “put thou my tears into thy bottle” symbolizes God collecting and remembering every sorrow and tear, preserving them as precious and significant. The question “are they not in thy book?” emphasizes that God records and oversees all aspects of David’s life, including his grief.
Psalm 56 is a prayer of supplication and trust written by David when he was captured by the Philistines in Gath. The psalm reflects his fear, oppression, and the plotting of enemies, yet it also demonstrates his unwavering faith that God is aware of his struggles and will deliver him. God is attentive to us, and He notices every movement and trial of His people. The Lord remembers every tear. Tears are metaphorically stored in a bottle, signifying that God values and remembers human suffering. We can be assured that the “book” represents God’s record of life, showing that nothing is forgotten and all is under His providence.
This verse should encourage every believer to trust that God sees and remembers their pain, even when human circumstances seem overwhelming. It reassures that sorrow is not wasted; God transforms it into a part of His divine plan, offering comfort and hope that every tear is acknowledged and will ultimately be redeemed.
Revelation 21:4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 126:5, “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” (This shows that God is acquainted with grief and sympathizes with human pain).
God is close to those who are suffering, rather than indifferent to their pain. The Bible promises a future state, Revelation 21:4, where He shall wipe all tears from our eyes! Just remember, your tears are never wasted, they are precious to God. Turn to the comfort of the Holy Spirit and let Him help you by showing you the great promises in the Word of God.
Amen! So be it!
JOYFUL House of Prayer, 2519 Quicksand Road, (P.O. Box 856), Jackson, Kentucky 41339. Send Comments/Prayer Requests: Pastornaomi4god@gmail.com. FB: JoyfulHoprayer. Services: 10am Sunday and Joyful Kids Class at 10:30am, 6:30pm Thursdays. Radio Broadcast: WJSN 97.3 FM & WEKG 81.0 AM Sundays 1-2pm.
