You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8 (NLT)
Thou tellest my wanderings;
put thou my tears into thy bottle;
are they not in thy book?
Psalm 56:8 (KJV)
You’ve kept track of every toss and turn through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.
Psalm 56:8 (MSG)
What beautiful words. Words of comfort. Words of reassurance. Words of life. Words of love. These words have hugs built right into them. Arms wrapped. Holding.
Our tears flow freely over life, trying to wash away all that would cause us pain. They are full of hurt, fear, loss, longing, disappointment, brokenness, separation, pain, illness, and even death. I don’t have to tell you that life is hard. You’re living it.
Whether our tears fall in big round drops or in salty streams, every bit of moisture is collected. The mother’s tears for a son are collected. The wife’s tears for a husband are collected. A child’s tears for a parent are collected. A friend’s tears for a friend are collected. Think about the number of tears shed in a single day on this earth. God surely has a huge reservoir in Heaven – an ocean of tears.
“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.
John 11:34-35
What a comfort to know that He who collects my tears also shed tears. That’s right. Jesus wept. Jesus was sad, broken, grieved by the loss of his friend. I marvel at that. Jesus, the One. Jesus, the Healer. Jesus, God of the Universe. The One who could dry every tear experienced pain, loss, grief. His tears fell too. What does that say to me? Jesus knows exactly how I feel. How you feel. Exactly.
“Why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She glanced over her should and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
“Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and exclaimed, “Teacher!”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!”
John 20:11-18
Mary’s tears were collected too. But guess what? In the midst of her tears, she saw Jesus. She was looking for Him and, He called her name. He appeared to her. I don’t know if He will visibly appear to us – He has the power to do that, you know. But I do know this, that in our tears, through our tears, while they are being collected, He calls our name.
So what do we do about this thing called life that causes so much pain for so many? We look to the One who chose to experience what we experience. We look to the One who knows what we’re going through. We look to the One who will guide us through the pain. We look to the One who calls our name.
We are told there are only two things we can be sure of in life – death and taxes. That’s not true, at all. We can only be sure of Jesus. He has promised us his unfailing love, forever. I can’t promise you that life will be easy, but I can promise you – He promises you – that whatever causes your tears to fall, whatever course your life is on, He knows what you’re going through. He is collecting every tear that slides. He’s calling out – Mary. He’s calling out — your name, My child, it’s Me!
There will be a day when no more tears will fall for those who know Him…
I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” Revelations 21:3-4
Until then…Through our tears do we turn to Him? Do we look to Him for the answers? Do we look to Him for the comfort? Do we look to Him for the healing? Do we look to Him, the only One we can be sure of? Can we say we have seen the Lord?
I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen,” and it’s still raining.
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold In Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You
-Casting Crowns