The Gift of Tears

Proverbs 2:3-5 "If thou criest after knowledge.... then shalt thou find the knowledge of God."

A very enlightened person once quoted:"Tears are a biological gift from God." Another gifted song writer penned"Tears are a language God understands."

I have mixed emotions about tears. But one thing I have learned: they can feel good and they can feel terrible!   I also believe that there is much knowledge to be learned from the language of tears. I often  do not know how to deal with tears. They visit me at times I am not expecting them. Sometimes they freely flow. I even cry when I'm angry at circumstances. It's then, if I keep indulging them, they can turn negative. There are other times, it is needful to suppress them.  They fall anyway.  I have been known to be dry eyed when everyone around me is crying.
On those occasions, suppressed tears can cause me to feel hard-hearted. Tears are a mystery. I will never understand this emotion totally but I want to respect them as something given to me by God. I do not want to constantly be struggling with the right and wrong of my tears.

Ecclesiastes says there is a time for weeping.  Psalms tells us that after a long night of this emotion, joy will come.
Strong, fighting men, such as David, feeling like a loser in the battle, have wept and called on God and experienced victory.  The fearful disciples were riding out what they thought was a killer storm, and cried out for protection, resulting in the comforting presence of God. In the Lamentations of Jeremiah, he cried out that it was God's mercies that he and all others were not consumed. Even Jesus experienced tears of grief when his friend Lazarus died.  I am convinced that Jesus had to deal with a lot of Marthas and Marys in his short time on earth. Women are so good at expressing themselves with tears in their changing emotions. I'm a woman and I know.

I have experienced all of the above and more. I have been injured in battle and cried in pain. I have rode out storms, feeling like I was drowning, my tears seeming to blend with the lash of the sea.
At times I have lamented with tears: "God, this is it! Only your mercy can save me!"

I have been a Martha, and felt my load was too heavy. Angry emotions evoke a different kind of tears. Sometimes I will battle for days with tears when I have been treated unjustly or am observing unfair treatment in circumstances surrounding me.

Everyone expects tears of grief. Knowing Jesus wept gives me permission for this very natural outlet of grief. Grief is experienced in various ways. Sometimes the tears are relief or happiness when a loved one has suffered an extended time. Then there are tears of anguish when a death is unexpected. However, or what kind, tears of grief are very, very normal. I have experienced them many times.

I have also felt the emotion of "joy" with tears. Tears tend to identify with negativity. However, psychologists say that crying at happy times balances out our emotional equilibrium. I can understand that. I have Mary tears when I'm feeling close to God. I can dissolve in them but they feel so good. I am a pro at crying in weddings and other happy places. I don't even try to hide them anymore. They feel good.

So I'm dealing with all kinds of emotions that produce tears:  needy tears, angry tears, healing tears and happy tears. Needy tears feel alright. These happen at times when I feel unworthy, repentant, or just desperate. I know God wants me to be broken and will hold me when I feel this way. God likes anything that will drive me to Him.

Now, I don't feel as needy, initially, when I am experiencing what I call "righteous indignation" and not liking it; thus producing a different kind of tears.  I am questioning and in a defense mode. I am asking "Why?" and "How come?". It takes me awhile to deal with these tears because I am not feeling the need of rescue or comfort. I am not grieving or happy. I'm angry for what I think is a good cause. Here's where tears can be used in a negative way. But, mercifully, if I steer clear of the mires of self pity and bitterness, God will bring me around to confessing to my pride and independence. Then is when I really cry the right kind of tears.  Angry tears are a means of enlightenment of the soul. They are still okay if channeled through God. They can turn into needy tears.

Tears of joy are delightful. They are nothing to be ashamed of. I love to see people smiling through their tears. I like to experience it. Joy and tears are the perfect cry time. No guilt, no need, no anger; just a grateful and contented heart.

The danger of our emotions, though designed by God, is that they can be used to manipulate circumstances or other people. There's nothing wrong with tears, but they must be used in the proper perspective in order for God to teach us.

I like to look at tears in a positive way. They are, as mentioned previously, a gift from God. They help heal, cleanse and identify us as God's creation. He gifted them to us as an outlet of release for the mind and body.  If he gave me tears, He meant for them to glorify Him!  Lord help me not to abuse them!