“Stop the waterworks!” Did your parent ever say that to you when you were crying and they knew you were just putting on a show? Maybe you didn’t get your own way, or it was your way of trying to convince your parent that you just HAD to have that thing or go to that activity. I don’t know about you, but it rarely worked for me with my parents and it didn’t work for our kids either. “Save your tears and stop the waterworks.”
Tears are an outward expression of what lies within. There is a saying that says, “There are many tears in the heart that never reach the eyes.” What do you keep hidden inside that “never reaches your eyes?” Is it a regret? Guilt? Shame? Broken promises? Jesus sees your tears whether they are in your heart or coming from your eyes.
We try so hard sometimes to keep “our business our business”, and those tears in the heart build and build until they have to overflow from our eyes and down our cheeks. Let them flow, because crying is an affective way of cleansing the heart.
There are also tears for other reasons; tears of anger, tears of grief, tears of pure joy, tears of relief, tears of gratefulness and on and on. I know, it is usually easier for girls to cry than it is for guys, and no, it doesn’t make a man look weak when they shed a tear. It shows they have a heart that feels. Nothing wrong with that, right?!
I remember crying when I found out I was pregnant and also the first time I held our little babies in my arms. I tear up many times in worship when my heart is full of gratitude and love for the Lord God. Seeing a hurting child grieve over their broken family, grieving, and saying goodbye will also bring me to tears. I also “lose it” when I see someone accept Christ or find healing from hurts in our Chained No More classes. “Stop the waterworks?” No, I won’t!
Because we are children of the Almighty God, we have the hope of eternal life with Him in Heaven. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I AM MAKING EVERY THING NEW!” Revelations 21:3-5
Now that is something to shed joyful tears about! Get the tissues out and let the waterworks begin, in the name of Jesus!