FROM TEARS TO TESTIMONIES
“Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord." 2 Kings 20:5.
King Hezekiah was sick unto death. Turning his face to the wall, he cries out to God. Hezekiah wept and pleaded for his life. God saw his tears and added more years to his life.
He sees our tears, too. Each tear we cry has meaning to our God. He keeps track of all our tears. Not one tear is unnoticed. God not only notices our tears, He knows why we're weeping.
"3So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep." 1 Samuel 30:3-4.
David and his gang of 600 loyal men were on the run from King Saul. At one time they encamped in a town called Ziklag, where they settled their families. From Ziklag they went out to do battle, leaving their wives and children safely behind. After the end of a particular raiding, David and his army were making a three-day journey back home when Ziklag was suddenly attacked by the Amalekites. They abducted the women and children and burned the town. No single person was left. When David and his men got home they were heartbroken. He wept. The great warrior who brought down Goliath cried like a baby. As expected, his men also wept. David's men were brave and extraordinarily strong. Yet they wept little children.
“Jesus Wept” John 11:35. The shortest Bible verse.
The word “weep” is translated from the Greek word klaio, and it means to weep, to wail, to sob, or to shed tears. The shedding of tears is a sign of a broken heart. It is an indication that a person is hurting or in pain. The sisters of Lazarus were in a sorrowful mood. Lazarus, their brother was dead, and it seemed Jesus had arrived too late. Hence they wept. When Jesus finally arrived, they poured out their souls; and Jesus wept with them. He was touched by their pain and broken hearts. Jesus understood their emotional needs.
MYSTERY OF TEARS:
The Longman Dictionary defines tears as "a drop of salty liquid that flows from the eye, especially because of pain or sadness." Another word for tears: crying, weeping, sobbing, wailing, and whimpering. Every single one of us has cried at some time or another. The shedding of tears is a peculiar unique human method of expressing emotions, such as sorrow, pain, despair, and disappointment. We cry tears of joy at the birth of a baby, and tears of sorrow when someone close to us die. Doctors have said that babies need to cry at birth because it opens up their lungs and aids the normal breathing process. Tears is a normal part of life. The coming of a baby into the world is announced by crying. Our lives are marked by tears and rejoicing. Tears lubricate the eyes and help to wash away dust and other irritants. Tears express love, compassion and understanding. Tears releases pain and brings healing. Every tear has a language. Tears speak much louder than words. Tears need no interpreter. Tears carry the message that our hearts ache and that we’re hurt and broken.
Crying may help lift people's spirits and make them feel better. It may mean you are frustrated, overwhelmed or even just trying to get someone's attention. The alternative to crying is to suppress our emotional feelings. But when you suppress your emotions, you're hurting your body. Your decision to bury, ignore, internalize, pretend they didn't happen, or convince yourself that there is no need to deal with them can make you sick. Unresolved emotional issues can be released in wrong and destructive forms (e.g., use of alcohol/drugs, a mental breakdown, abusive behaviour, or even suicide). Research suggests that suppressing emotions is associated with high rates of heart disease and ulcers. Are you restraining your emotions? Pushing those feelings aside can leads to stress and sickness.
THREE TYPES OF TEARS:
Tears help to communicate our emotions, and our body makes three types of tears.
1. Basal tears are in your eyes all the time to lubricate, nourish and protect your cornea. Basal tears act as a constant shield, keeping dirt and debris away.
2. Reflex tears are formed when the eyes need to wash away harmful irritants, such as smoke, foreign bodies or onion fumes. Reflex tears contain more antibodies to help fight bacteria.
3. Emotional tears are produced in response to joy, sadness, fear and other emotional states.
MEN ALSO CRY:
Professor Ad Vingerhoets, a researcher and clinical psychologist, who specializes on stress and emotion, conducted a study to better understand human tears. According to his findings, women cry between 30 and 64 times a year, while men only cry between 6 and 17 times.
According to the World Health Organization, more men commit suicide yearly more often than women, yet women are more depressed and contemplate suicide more than men. Why then the disparity? There are two reasons why. First, is that men, traditionally, see depression as a sign of weakness and are reluctant to seek help and support. Women are more likely to seek and receive help than men. Second, the societal and cultural belief that men don’t cry.
It is considered a sign of weakness if a man cried. When things are tough, we’re taught from an early age to “be a man and keep quiet”. We’re taught that crying or showing emotion is weakness. So we suppress every pain and hurts. But the truth is, we all have emotions – male and female. Bottling up these emotions can affect our mental and spiritual health. Men who are hesitant to express their emotions are more prone to accelerated aging, acne, erectile dysfunction, headaches, and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. They can also suffer from sore muscles, stomach issues, and a weakened immune system. Men who hold back their feelings are also more likely to be stressed, anxious, and depressed. Men who suppress their emotions are not likely to seek help and support. Men should not be ashamed of crying because there's no shame in crying. Express your emotional feelings, don’t take out your pain and frustration on others. Never be afraid of tears, for it’s a language that God understands.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF TEARS:
1. There's the tears of physical pains. This is caused by physical discomfort.
2. The tears of emotional pain. These are tears that are deeply rooted in the soul.
3. The tears of despair.
4. The tears of regret. How often we shed tears of regret for what we have said or what we have done, or perhaps for what we should have said or done. Mark 14:72.
5. The tears of frustration.
5. Tears of depression.
6. Many have shed tears because of the death of a family member; friend; or colleague.
7. The tears of rejoicing. These are tears when you are filled with happiness. Genesis 45:15.
8. Tears of gratitude which flow from thankful hearts. Luke 7:37-38.
9. The tears of Compassion. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus wept out of compassion.
10. Tears of Hell. Matthew 8:12. There will be no one to console those who ends up in Hell.
11. Tears of repentance. Acts 3:19. Repentance will bring a time of refreshment.
12. Tears of forgiveness. Are you broken over your sin?
13. There are tears of desperation. Esther 4:1-3.
"For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5.
The season of your suffering, and sorrow do not last. In God’s time, it will come to an end. He will fill your mouth with laughter and songs of joy. A new day is dawning.
WHAT MUST YOU DO WHILE WEEPING?
1. Trust God:
Psalms 34:19. When you go to bed with sorrow, and wake up each morning to tears, it is difficult to see a way ahead. You begin to wonder, “for how long will this go on? Will I ever come out of this with testimony?” It's not over! God's working behind the scenes to usher you into your testimonies. He sees our complete story from beginning to end. Things may not work out exactly how we planned. But we will experience joy as we trust Him. Proverbs 3:5.
2. Pray.
Tell Him all that's on your heart. Take the example of Hannah in the Bible who was hurt, and frustrated with her situations. Yet she poured out her heart to God in prayer. 1 Samuel 1:1-20. As you pray, the peace of God that passes understanding will guard your. Philippians 4:6-7.
3. Trust the process.
You may not understand what God's doing, but trust His process. Romans 8:28.
4. Never let your circumstances defines you.
5. Keep your dreams alive.
Don’t give up your God-given dreams or vision because your circumstances have turned sour.
6. Learn from every season that you are in
Every season has lessons. You can learn things in your night season that enable you to minister hope and stability to others who will face these kinds of things in the future.
7. Guard your heart.
Our heart condition influences the course and situations of our life. We can’t control what happens around us, but we can control what happens inside. Don’t let Satan steal your joy.
8. Prepare for the next season of joy.
Look through your circumstances and tears to a better time that is coming. Look to the joy that awaits you, and the daybreak of a new season of your life. It doesn’t matter how dark the night has been. After the dark hours of the night, there comes the dawning of a new day.
9. Keep sowing good seeds. Psalm 126:5. There's a future harvest.
10. Read and meditate on the Word.
Take the time to search for what God wants to say to you through your circumstances.
11. Avoid whining and complaining.
Instead of making you feel better, complaining actually highlights the negative.
11. Learn to laugh.
Laughing relaxes the body, relieves stress and pain, benefits heart and immune systems. Laughter really is good medicine. Maintain a daily attitude of joy.
THERE IS A HAPPY ENDING TO YOUR STORY:
What's your story? We all go through hard and tough times! Sometimes when we're in the thick of suffering and sorrow, it feels like it will never come to an end. But it will. You may be going through a trial or affliction that has brought weeping, but it will soon pass. Are you in a financial crisis? It is just for a night. Are you passing through some difficulties in your marriage? It is just for a night. Do you have health related challenges? It is just for a night. Are you facing crisis in your ministry that's making you to cry? It's not going to be permanent. Are your children the source of your tears? It's only a night. Whatever you may be going through right now, the morning is coming. There is no night without a dawn. Don't accept your situation as final! God's saying your morning is coming! Joy will come with the morning. Restoration will come with the morning. Testimonies will come with the morning! Your mourning will be turned into dancing. Morning means new beginning and renewed hope. The morning light reveals events of the night and provides opportunity for a fresh start.
The night represents a period of trial, darkness, evil, insecurity, and uncertainty. Perhaps your night is not just a physical night; it may be a night of weeks, months or even years of hurt, sorrow and tears. But joy is coming! God will wipe away all tears from your eyes in the name of Jesus. "11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever." Psalm 30:11-12.
The last time tears are mentioned in the Bible is in Revelation 21 verse 4. It shows a beautiful scene in Heaven: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” This is our hope. A day is coming when we shall weep no more! God will wipe away all our tears.
PRAYER POINT:
1. Father, turn my sorrow to joy, weeping to laughter, in Jesus name.
2. O Lord, turn my impossible situation to testimonies, do it again for me, in Jesus name.
3. Father, make a way for me, in Jesus name.
4. O Lord, before this year ends, let my testimonies be complete, in Jesus name.
5. Thank God for answering your prayers.
