“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8
You could easily say this has been one of those weeks. Not only in my life, but in the lives of friends I love very dearly. In family members lives who are struggling through some hard stuff right now. Tomorrow is Cody’s birthday. I always miss him more this time of year.
But I just had the coolest thing happen. I know you’re going to think I’m crazy. I’ve shed a lot of tears in my lifetime. Most of us have. I rely on Psalm 56:8 every time I shed one. I think of God capturing my tears. Recording my hurts. It always makes me feel better.
I just sat down to start session four of Lisa Harper’s study on Job. I love listening to Lisa Harper. I like the sound of her voice. I love the slight grittiness to it. I love the southern accent. Her voice soothes me when I hear it.
I started the session. There is this music at the beginning. Every time I hear it start, my heart quickens. I know I’m about to learn something good. I get so excited.
Today, as my heart quickened, tears started to roll silently down my cheek. It’s the first time I’ve ever started a study in tears. It’s the first time I think I have experienced joy and sorrow simultaneously.
I thought to myself, “If I’m crying when I start this, it’s going to be even better than I think.”
Life is so hard. But that doesn’t mean it’s bad. It doesn’t mean you’re alone. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t care. It simply means it’s hard.
I love this quote from Bob Goff’s book, “Everybody Always”:
“We can bring all the game we’ve got, but only Jesus has the power to call out of us the kind of courage it takes to live the life He talked about.”
That is truth in its best sense. Life is hard but it’s worth it.
On to session four!
(Today’s picture was taken on the streets of NYC when I was there in August. Hope in the middle of the city!)
God and Tears
