Let The Tears Flow...And Move Forward

Psalm 137:1-4 -  By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion.  We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it.  For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"  How shall we sing the Lord's song In a foreign land?

 

When this anonymous writer sat down…his reflections of the great city of Jerusalem brought fresh tears to his face. His sorrow from captivity was more than he could deal with in that moment…and he could not imagine himself having enough energy to sing the great songs of praise to God that his captors were asking for.

 

The captors made them sing anyway….and in my thinking that was good thing. The heavy heart we have in deep sorrow and pain will cause us to freeze in that season…if we let it.  Forcing ourselves out of bed….trying to find a way to cope with the pain and grief…leads us straight to God’s lap.  Once we have crawled up in his lap…and let him begin to heal our broken …hurt heart….we begin to see the purpose and a new season…a new song emerges from the pain.

 

I think of Job….Joseph…and David.  Men who suffered much in the life that God granted them…yet each one forced themselves to keep searching for God.  They never gave up hope that God would show up…and restore them….fulfilling the promises he had made to them before their struggle began.

 

Never let satan trick you into holding those tears that God created inside you.  God packed those tiny drops of water with a healing power that you will never know until they are released.  They slowly wash the pain and grief far enough away from your heart…so you will have room for the joy that God has planned for you…the hope he promised in Jeremiah 29:11.

 

Father…I thank you for my own tears this morning.  They fall in remembrance of the deep love you once let me experience with Mitchell.  I thank you for the short time you allowed…a time of sweet memories that bring a mixture of tears and smiles to my face. Thank you for allowing those powerful tears to reveal a deeper meaning for life than just earthly love….for drawing me close enough to you so I could find a way to love you more deeply.  Thanks for sharing your lap with me…and helping me to find joy again.  Amen.