From Tears To Testimonies

FROM TEARS TO TESTIMONIES

“Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord." 2 Kings 20:5.

King Hezekiah was sick unto death. Turning his face to the wall, he cries out to God. Hezekiah wept and pleaded for his life. God saw his tears and added more years to his life.

He sees our tears, too. Each tear we cry has meaning to our God. He keeps track of all our tears. Not one tear is unnoticed. God not only notices our tears, He knows why we're weeping.

"3So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep." 1 Samuel 30:3-4.

David and his gang of 600 loyal men were on the run from King Saul. At one time they encamped in a town called Ziklag, where they settled their families. From Ziklag they went out to do battle, leaving their wives and children safely behind. After the end of a particular raiding, David and his army were making a three-day journey back home when Ziklag was suddenly attacked by the Amalekites. They abducted the women and children and burned the town. No single person was left. When David and his men got home they were heartbroken. He wept. The great warrior who brought down Goliath cried like a baby. As expected, his men also wept. David's men were brave and extraordinarily strong. Yet they wept little children.

“Jesus Wept” John 11:35. The shortest Bible verse.

The word “weep” is translated from the Greek word klaio, and it means to weep, to wail, to sob, or to shed tears. The shedding of tears is a sign of a broken heart. It is an indication that a person is hurting or in pain. The sisters of Lazarus were in a sorrowful mood. Lazarus, their brother was dead, and it seemed Jesus had arrived too late. Hence they wept. When Jesus finally arrived, they poured out their souls; and Jesus wept with them. He was touched by their pain and broken hearts. Jesus understood their emotional needs.

MYSTERY OF TEARS:

The Longman Dictionary defines tears as "a drop of salty liquid that flows from the eye, especially because of pain or sadness." Another word for tears: crying, weeping, sobbing, wailing, and whimpering. Every single one of us has cried at some time or another. The shedding of tears is a peculiar unique human method of expressing emotions, such as sorrow, pain, despair, and disappointment. We cry tears of joy at the birth of a baby, and tears of sorrow when someone close to us die. Doctors have said that babies need to cry at birth because it opens up their lungs and aids the normal breathing process. Tears is a normal part of life. The coming of a baby into the world is announced by crying. Our lives are marked by tears and rejoicing. Tears lubricate the eyes and help to wash away dust and other irritants. Tears express love, compassion and understanding. Tears releases pain and brings healing. Every tear has a language. Tears speak much louder than words. Tears need no interpreter. Tears carry the message that our hearts ache and that we’re hurt and broken.

Crying may help lift people's spirits and make them feel better. It may mean you are frustrated, overwhelmed or even just trying to get someone's attention. The alternative to crying is to suppress our emotional feelings. But when you suppress your emotions, you're hurting your body. Your decision to bury, ignore, internalize, pretend they didn't happen, or convince yourself that there is no need to deal with them can make you sick. Unresolved emotional issues can be released in wrong and destructive forms (e.g., use of alcohol/drugs, a mental breakdown, abusive behaviour, or even suicide). Research suggests that suppressing emotions is associated with high rates of heart disease and ulcers. Are you restraining your emotions? Pushing those feelings aside can leads to stress and sickness.

THREE TYPES OF TEARS:

Tears help to communicate our emotions, and our body makes three types of tears.

1. Basal tears are in your eyes all the time to lubricate, nourish and protect your cornea. Basal tears act as a constant shield, keeping dirt and debris away.

2. Reflex tears are formed when the eyes need to wash away harmful irritants, such as smoke, foreign bodies or onion fumes. Reflex tears contain more antibodies to help fight bacteria.