“It is okay to cry,” the Holy Spirit spoke quietly, gently, tenderly to my heart. “I understand your sorrow.”
I am not big on crying like I was for years. Not because I don’t have plenty of reasons to cry along this life’s journey. I definitely do. But I just tend not to. I think in part because somewhere along the way probably like others who love Jesus I must have figured now that I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ I should be “strong” and “hold myself together” and “be there for others” and “not feel sorry for myself” and “be over the crying thing.”
Well all it took was the loss of yet another person I dearly love for the tears to come flying out. My beloved friend didn’t die. I have had plenty of those losses too. She had just all of a sudden in the midst of a truly beautiful and close friendship pushed the Lord away and in so doing pushed me away along with Him. And off she went. Without so much as a goodbye. And it hurt. I convinced myself it didn’t hurt so badly. I shoved the sorrow deep within. And on I went with my life. Until all of a sudden something precipitated the outpouring of tears. Along with this message.
I needed God, the “God of all comfort”, my sweet Father in heaven, my beloved Lord, my forever King, my very best friend, my Savior, to speak to my heart those loving-kind words. In so doing reminding me He is ever with me. Through the ups. Through the downs. At all times. Always with me. Forever with me. Even when the tears come.
I grew up in a loving family I very dearly love which had some serious imperfections one of which was tears were considered bad. We were to hide all tears. Or be ridiculed and judged. Rarely did I ever see a family member cry. And I was very emotional. And being teased and judged didn’t feel good.
Decades later now, I was reminded, it’s okay to cry. And the best place we could ever bring our tears is to the Lord. Whom I believe will comfort us through every genuine tear we shed humbly and sincerely before Him.
If you need to cry, friend, bring your tears and heart before the Lord. And seek and receive the greatest comfort ever from the greatest healer and comforter ever whose love never fails and whose mercy endures forevermore.
Please, God, comfort all who need your comfort – always. Amen!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NKJV
“Love never fails.” 1 Cor. 13:8 NKJV
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34 NKJV