Frankie Valli is known for a song back in the 1960’s titled “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” Remember? Can you hear his whining cry, “yii, yii, yii?” If you’re too young, you might not know this one. You can check it out on YouTube: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It might be a catchy tune, but I’m here to tell you, Frankie is WRONG! I cried a lot several years back. Having a prodigal will do that to you. Actually, I have shed many tears over the years. I’m just like my mother. She cries easily. The world would like to say that we’re weak people for doing so, but I wasn’t too sure about that. So I went to my Bible to do a study of my own.
Guess what? Jesus cried! We believers know this one, because in our younger years of memorizing scriptures, we liked to quote the shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35, which says: “Jesus wept.” He wept over the sorrow of his friends at the death of Lazarus.
I bet he cried in the Garden of Gethsemane also. The Bible says He sweat drops of blood, for He was in great anguish. And usually when we’re in such anguish, we cry. Jesus certainly was not weak. He’s the strongest man I know. He knew he was about to be crucified, to die a horrible, painful death. His Father turned his back on him during this time. His disciples—friends—slept when he needed them the most. When the time came, the soldiers didn’t force Him on that cross. He crawled onto it willingly, willingly letting them drive the nails into His hands and feet. Willingly letting them put a crown of thorns on His head. And as He listened to the crowds taunting Him, He asked the Father to forgive them! When the soldiers reached up to give him vinegar and gall, something that would deaden the pain, He refused it. He wanted to feel—to take on—the pain of the whole world. If that is not strength, I don’t know what is. And yet, He cried.
You’ll also find in Luke 19:41 that He wept regarding Jerusalem from afar, knowing what would befall the people of that city because of their rejection of Him.
Hebrews 5:7 says, “During the days of Jesus life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.”
I love reading that he cried aloud, because I have done the same. He understands where we’re coming from, how we’re feeling, because He’s been there.
David, a man after God’s own heart, said in Psalm 6:6, “I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.” I hear ya, David!
Then in verse 8 he says, “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” This tells me that crying is ok with the Lord. The Psalms also tell us that He knows our sorrow and sees every tear. He sees EVERY tear of EVERY person. That’s compassion!
Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” The footnote says, “God’s ability to restore life is beyond our understanding. Forests burn down and are able to grow back. Broken bones heal. Even grief is not a permanent condition. Our tears can be seeds that will grow into a harvest of joy because God is able to bring good out of tragedy. When burdened by sorrow, know that your time of grief will eventually end and that will again find joy. We must be patient as we wait.”
Another man in the Bible who cried was Job. He’s described as a blameless and upright man who fears God. Job 16:20 says his eyes poured out tears to God.
So you see, we criers are in good company. And did you notice these were all “big people?” It’s OK to cry, and not just us big girls, but you men also. A lot of the crying in the Bible was done by men!
Don’t be ashamed, let the tears come and flow as long as needed. Cry-y-y! I know from experience, as hard as the process is, afterwards, you will feel inwardly cleansed, calmer, and you will sleep well. And remember the good news in Revelation. I found it twice being spoken about believers:
“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water, And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17).
“He will wipe away 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 ” (Revelation 21:4).
Could that living water be all our tears? —Kristin Bridgman, US
bowiekitten on June 17, 2011 at 11:45 am
Thank you, Kristin. That was incredibly comforting. I’ve often thought that, as we are all parts of Christ’s body, I must be a tear duct.
mike wittmer on June 17, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Kristen:
I’m reminded of what a bishop once told Monica, who prayed for many years with tears that her prodigal son, Augustine, would come to Jesus. The bishop comforted her by saying “It is impossible for a son of so many tears to perish.” That’s obviously not a scientific statement, but a declaration that God weeps for our children even more than we do, and we may rightly take much comfort in that.