I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1 NIV
God Hears Our Cries
Back in 2018, A Canadian woman broke down in tears in an Australian court when she was sentenced to eight years in prison for her part in an attempt to smuggle cocaine worth $16 million into Sydney in luggage aboard a luxury cruise ship. Melina Roberge, 24, told the New South Wales State District Court that she risked a life sentence in an Australian prison for the opportunity to take selfies “in exotic locations and post them on Instagram to receive ‘likes’ and attention” during a $17,000 vacation she couldn’t afford.
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Tears have a healing purpose. They release tension and give expression to emotions that are deep within us. Tears are a sign of our humanity – there isn’t a human being of any race, creed or language who hasn’t shed a tear. Even Jesus, in His full humanity, wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus. He is the God who has cried, and because of this, we have the assurance that He understands our pain and is committed to doing all He can to relieve it. Years before Jesus wept, the Psalmist understood this. In Psalm 40:1 we read, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” The Lord God isn’t sitting in heaven wondering why we cry and what they are all about. He has shed tears and His heart breaks when ours do. Tears get God’s attention, David says. He turns to us when He hears us cry. Whatever is causing your tears today, know that God sees you and understands and turns His attention to you.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley