Tears in a Bottle
Guest post by Laura Carnes
Psalm 56:8 – Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
When I was in college, my roommates and I use to joke that if God put all our tears in a bottle He would have to a have a mighty big closet to keep them all in. Tears in a bottle could have been the title to our college memoirs. Women have a reputation for crying a lot. Not sure that is really accurate, but in my case, it definitely seems as if I cry more and more each year.
I have been reflecting over this past year and looking forward to 2014. I think that this time of year is pretty good for that. Most people prefer to look back at the happy memories of the past, as do I. I love to think back at all the wonderful memories of 2013, but the Lord keeps bringing me back to this verse. I have thought to myself this question: If God were to label my bottles of tears for this past year, for what would my tears be shed? One’s character is very clearly seen by what brings them to tears.
This year I have shed many happy tears- tears of joy!! I have shed tears as I watched my son follow the Lord in baptism, wept as I watched teens follow the Lord in their choices, cried as I saw my kids playing and just realized God’s goodness and mercy upon my family. I guess I have dried my eyes just a few more times than I can remember at the sheer joy of knowing that I have a God who loves me and cares about every part of me.
Unfortunately, I admit that I also have cried about selfish, petty, prideful things. You know, when things did not go my way, or just being so consumed with my own problems or disappointments that I could not see my blessings. Tears would flow, but that again is usually what happens when you follow your own way. After all, it is a biblical principle. Prov. 16:25 – There is a way that seemeth right unto man but the end thereof are the ways of death. I cannot really expect to do my own thing apart from God and it turn out to my better. Oh, that I would have the mind of Christ and realize even in everyday things that God works all things for my good.
There have been tears of sadness as well. Tears when I moved away from friends and family, tears when my friends are terminally ill and going through so much miles away. There have been tears over the hardness of hearts against the loving leading of Christ. Tears at the realization of my own inadequacies. Even more, I have cried at the conviction of the Holy Spirit over sin in my life. Thankfully, those always lead me to tears of joy at the Lord’s forgiveness. Proverbs 28:13 he that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. God is so good to us. I believe we learn the most about ourselves through our hard times. Times of a broken heart lead us to the one and only Healer of hearts. Though I have to say, though there were sad tears, there were surely more tears of joy than of sorrow.
If God were to take inventory of my tears, there is one type in which I would be lacking I know. Those tears that I truly hope I cry more of in 2014… tears for lost souls. I have struggled too much with not having a tender heart toward those around me, so caught up with my own little world that I fail to see God’s world full of lost souls bound for hell. Psalm 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Tears can be good if they are shed for the right reasons. They can truly be a tool to demonstrate our love and appreciation to God and others for the blessings in our lives. My goal this year is to cry more- cry more for what matters. More tears of love and joy, but also for souls. When you cry for godly reasons it ultimately brings smiles. My daughter informed me that she likes my face better smiling…and with makeup on it. Guess I need to work on smiling more…and wearing make-up more often, not just on Sundays.
My friend, what tears did you shed this year? Were they pleasing to God or just a reflection of self? God says in His Word that in heaven “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes..” Until then, I will keep racking up an inventory in God’s bottle of tears. I pray that they will be tears of growth, my gain, and God’s glory.