Dr. William Frey, a biochemist at Ramsey Medical Center in Minneapolis, studied the composition of different tears, and he discovered that emotional tears are comprised of water, salt and stress hormones. Our bodies rid our physical systems of stress chemicals when we cry. Isn’t it amazing that God created our bodies with this wonderful ability? Tears serve both an emotional and a physical purpose! Tears are good.
But what if visiting the pain again or allowing myself to feel the grief and sorrow causes emotions or questions that go against what I should believe to be true? I love the way Priscilla Shirer addresses these concerns in her message “Are You the Expected One?” Check it out for help with this question.
So, my friends, I’m learning that it’s not wrong to feel. It’s OK, even good, to cry. Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb! He didn’t simply shed a couple of tears and move on. He was deeply moved in His spirit, and He mourned along with the other Jews at the graveside (John 11:33–35).
Does this mean that Jesus didn’t believe the truth of who He was? Was He not solid in His identity? Did He not know what He was about to do? Absolutely not. He was fully God, yet He chose to also be fully human. And in that moment, He suffered grief of a kind we are all well acquainted with.
When we’re willing to endure through the grief rather than escaping it, Jesus can come to us and comfort us in ways we would never know otherwise. And with that comfort we can comfort others in their own struggle. The trial may cause us to ask some hard questions, but as we seek Christ for Truth, our faith will be strengthened.
My friends, I know that tears are hard, but they don’t last forever. When we’re honest with God that we can’t do it on our own, and allow Christ’s strength to flow through us, He gently carries us to find the deep joy that abides in Him.
From our team: Revive Our Hearts is all about helping you find deep, real and abiding joy in Christ. That’s why we bring you this blog, radio programs, books and more—to help infuse the Truth of God’s Word into your everyday life (and True Hope into your grief). If this post or other posts on this blog have strengthened you in your walk with the Lord, would you consider joining our Monthly Partner team? These folks are the men and women who want to see others find freedom, fullness and fruitfulness in Christ and commit to support us monthly through prayer and finances. To learn more or sign up, visit our Monthly Partner page. Thank you for reading today and supporting this ministry!
This article originally appeared here.
