Tears
We are often told that tears are a sign of weakness. Sometimes, we are made to feel bad for crying or ridiculed for showing an emotional side. Lately, I have had a hard time controlling the tears. I completely understand the source of my pain, but it is still hard to show that side of you. Sometimes I feel depressed for getting so depressed.
I have been reading a great book by Stasi Eldridge titled "Captivating". She devotes a small section of the book to tears. She poses the question of why do women feel the need to devote so much energy to suppress the pain and keep up a good appearance when Jesus himself was a "man of sorrows acquainted with grief" (Isa. 53:3) She says grief is good and it helps to heal our hearts. How many times do we think of it that way?? How many times are we thankful for the pain?
Her solution is to "let the tears come. Get alone, get to your car or your bedroom or the shower and let the tears come." She says we need to feel; that it's ok to feel anger (Eph. 4:26), remorse, fear, that there is no emotion we can bring up that Jesus can't handle.
And then she responds by saying, "Grief is a form of validation; it says the wound mattered. It mattered. You mattered. " But that's not the end of the story. Then comes forgiveness. And then...we ask Jesus to heal us. I'll talk more about those last two points later. For now, I'm leaving with this thought....It's ok to let the tears come. God recognizes our tears and sends us comfort in many different forms. But we have to accept that he wants to help us. We have to ask and be willing to receive. Isn't that the pattern for everything in the christian life?
I have been reading a great book by Stasi Eldridge titled "Captivating". She devotes a small section of the book to tears. She poses the question of why do women feel the need to devote so much energy to suppress the pain and keep up a good appearance when Jesus himself was a "man of sorrows acquainted with grief" (Isa. 53:3) She says grief is good and it helps to heal our hearts. How many times do we think of it that way?? How many times are we thankful for the pain?
Her solution is to "let the tears come. Get alone, get to your car or your bedroom or the shower and let the tears come." She says we need to feel; that it's ok to feel anger (Eph. 4:26), remorse, fear, that there is no emotion we can bring up that Jesus can't handle.
And then she responds by saying, "Grief is a form of validation; it says the wound mattered. It mattered. You mattered. " But that's not the end of the story. Then comes forgiveness. And then...we ask Jesus to heal us. I'll talk more about those last two points later. For now, I'm leaving with this thought....It's ok to let the tears come. God recognizes our tears and sends us comfort in many different forms. But we have to accept that he wants to help us. We have to ask and be willing to receive. Isn't that the pattern for everything in the christian life?
posted by Miranda at 10:48 PM
3 Comments:
I have learned that everyone deals with pain differently. There is no right or wrong way. Just your way. It is something that is personal. Crying is a great release. It is an outpouring of emotion. Why do people have such problems with tears but, don't have a problem with laughter. I think sometimes it is because it reminds them of their own pain! I say happy or sad let the tears flow.... Tears remind me of cleansing. It is a way of washing.... Sometimes it can wash away the pain, if even for a few minutes. Depression is something we all get... I think it is something that is sooo hard to understand. Sometimes we don't even know the source of our own depresssion.... Well I will stop for now so this won't be it's own blog...lol
Speaking of crying - I just did that today! LOL! :) I totally agree that shedding tears helps!!! That's what tears are for - shedding! Letting go! Letting it all out! And sometimes you laugh so hard - you cry! So, if you think about it, are tears really that far off from laughter?! Oh, and I like the part about people just want to "matter!" That is so true! We are all simply hanging on and we want to matter! :)
just a thought that uplifts me when the tears come , is psalm 56 verse 8.god loves us so much he keeps a record of our tears.
so cry on!!!
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