Tears In A Bottle

I. TODAY IS A DAY FOR TEARS

A. Young Man Struck Down Suddenly & Senselessly

1. Senselessly – makes no sense

2. Accident that shouldn’t have happened

B. Young Man

1. Who had plans & dreams

2. Good guy who was there for you

3. Who leaves behind a huge family

4. Who leaves behind a sweetheart

C. When I Consider & See It All

1. It hurts

2. This loss in everyway is like a knife in the heart

3. Leaves in its wake bewilderment, confusion, anger, doubt, pain, tears

II. STRANGE ANCIENT CUSTOM OF USING “TEAR BOTTLES”

A. Ancients Believed Tears Were “Sacred”

B. Archaeologists Have Uncovered In Ancient Tombs

1. Lachrymatories - small vials - bottle for tears

2. Tears were collected

3. Every tear shed here – is sacred!

III. PSALMIST SAID “GOD, PUT MY TEARS INTO YOUR BOTTLE”

A. Why Would God Collect “Tears”

1. People collect things that

a. they are interested in

b. that are of value

c. that are rare

2. God collects the tears of those who cry out to him

a. because He’s interested in your tears - you may not feel anyone else cares, but God cares

b. because He knows your tears are of value

-- not only is he interested in your pain

-- he considers your tears of great value

-- your tears before the throne of God never wasted

-- they may dry up where they fall, but they do not dry up or evaporate before God

3. Those tears God collects as priceless treasures & keeps safe

B. In Your Grief, God Says, Don’t Bottle Up Your Tears Within Inside Yourself

1. You try to bottle them up – afraid, afraid to let go, to grieve, it hurts

2. But unhealthy to bottle up too much inside

a. volume of tears is too massive

b. squeezes against every fiber of your soul

c. inner pressure cooker of pain & heart-ache & grief

d. God gave tears as a way of cleansing the heart, mind, soul they wash & wash & wash - wash anger, wash grief

e. hold them in - nothing washed out

f. your bottle for tears can only hold so much - bottle will explode

g. Psalmist – my tears are too many – can’t hold them all

4. Psalmist, “put my tears into Your bottle”

IV. THAT’S EASIER SAID THAN DONE – NO DOUBT THE THOUGHT HAS CROSSED SOMEONE’S MIND – WHY SHOULD I TRUST GOD WITH MY TEARS, HE LET THIS HAPPEN

A. That’s Not A Question I Can Answer

1. It’s a question I’ve asked God more than once – really

a. lost a friend to a boating accident 2 years ago

b. it still hurts

c. I was angry at God, at life, at people

d. some people say, “don’t ask the hard questions”

e. all that does is shut you down

f. somewhere, somehow, you may find the answer

g. in the meantime, God doesn’t turn you away

2. Somehow, someway, I believe God understands your anger & pain

a. 2000 years ago, His son died suddenly & tragically

b. His son innocent, life taken at the murderous hands of others

c. I’m talking about the Son of God – Jesus

d. there on that cross – God’s grief so huge

- sky clapped angrily with thunder

- earth shook angrily with an earthquake

- clouds roared down a storm of tears

B. God Is Here – Knows Your Pain

1. It’s okay to weep, to cry, to tremble

2. God says, “Let me hold you, embrace you”

3. Your tears are sacred

4. When you can’t bear the grief – too much – I’ll help you

V. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WALK AWAY FROM HEAR EMPTY HANDED OR HEARTED

A. Chris Impacted Your Life – Had Chris Never Been Born Your Life Different

B. Celebrate The Difference Chris Make In Your Life

C. Let That Difference & His Memory Eternally Live On Within You

1. While he’s gone, there’s a part of him that hasn’t gone & doesn’t have to go

2. Keep that part of him in your heart

3. Let it live on as a legacy to his memory as you live your life