Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not okay to feel down as a Christian from time to time. We live in a day and age where we are pulled in a hundred directions at one time! Many of us wear many hats in life… God doesn’t expect you to have a “fake it ’til you make it” kind of faith. He knows you intimately and wants YOU to know that you can come to Him and lay at the foot of the cross ALL that is on your heart.
It makes sense if you think about it, He’s your “Heavenly Father” He tells us in Matthew 11:29-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.”
Do you think the One who made tears doesn’t know what it is like to shed them? Hebrews 4:15 tells us:
“For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…” He knows. Not only does He know from a personal level (Jesus is FULLY God AND FULLY man), but also scripture tells us in Psalm 139:1-6.
“Lord, You have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around me – in front and in back- and have put your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand…”
Below I have found a few times in the Bible where Jesus, Himself, wept (and these are just a couple).
When His friend, Lazarus died, John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.”
and again in Luke 19:41-44, “And when He was come near, He beheld the city and wept over it.”
Our God is a God of compassion, and I personally believe He feels things VERY deeply and since we are each made “according to His image” it shouldn’t surprise us when we do too.
Did you ever stop to think that God gave you tears for a reason? Listen to what the Bible says about tears:
“You keep track of all my sorrows, you have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded every one of them in Your Book.” (Psalm 56:8)
“…For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelations 7:17)
“…And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelations 21:4)
You see, God doesn’t want YOU to be strong for Him, He wants YOU to allow HIM to be YOUR strength, Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.” There is NO shame in being real with Him, are you allowing Him to be YOUR refuge and strength? He is there and HE wants to be that and MORE to you.
Right before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He said to the Apostles, “But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26)
What a Father we have that He has sent us a Comforter! What is His job? TO COMFORT US. How does He do that? He helps us to hide God’s Word in our heart and He brings it front and center to our minds when we need it! (Are YOU hiding God’s Word in your heart??) God’s Word is to remind us (as Jesus said above in John 14:26) of ALL the things He has said to them (and ultimately to us too). Beloved, God’s Word is one of the ways God wipes our tears away because we can have joy in the fact that this battle that we are in HAS ALREADY BEEN WON! We can rejoice in the fact that through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross and through His resurrection, our relationship with God has been restored! That we (through Jesus) have the gift of eternal life! Don’t be ashamed for feeling down and downcast at times – Your Father understands! Draw comfort from HIM. He’s there and He cares.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort w ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Now run into the awaiting arms of your Heavenly Father and tell Him ALL that is on your mind and your heart and I promise you, because I personally know… “The peace that passes ALL understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6)
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