Weeping With Those Who Weep

The natural response of our human nature is to be callous or to be insensitive to the needs of others. Because of our inherent selfish nature, we are inclined to find needy people somewhat depressing to be around; for example, the desperate condition of the homeless, the broken hearted and the emotionally bruised can deflate or burst the carefree bubble of our comfort zone, and become a source of discomfort and irritation for us. Instinctively, the human nature guards itself with callousness and insensitivity. Therefore, the selfish nature is impervious to desperate people with desperate needs, and it is completely devoid of sympathy or empathy. However, when the selfish heart is touched by the divine love of God, then the heart is transformed; the natural response of our human nature is changed to the supernatural response of God's divine nature. The selfless, caring and tender love of God moves us with compassion, not only for those within our circle of interest, like family and friends, but for strangers as well, and even our enemies. God's love is like a warm ray of sunshine. His love penetrates the dark recess of the soul, melts the icy cold frigidity of selfishness, and we experience a marvellous awakening. The soul is awakened to the new dimension of caring, empathy and tenderness for others. We are moved with compassion to feel their pain, to share their heavy burden of cares, and to weep with those who weep.

Jesus wept. The shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept," speaks volumes about the heart of God. Touched by the needs of others, the all powerful God -- measureless in omnipotence -- wept. Feeling the pain of others, the all knowing God -- infinite in omniscience -- wept... shedding tears that flowed from eyes of compassion; tears that welled up from a heart broken by the pain and suffering of the broken hearted. To feel our pain, the Spirit of God became "flesh," to minister to the suffering poor, to heal the broken hearted and to set at liberty those that were bruised. Over and over again, Jesus was moved with compassion to weep with those who wept: He wept with Mary and Martha at the grave of Lazarus; He wept over the people of Jerusalem, who rejected their Messiah; He wept for them again, while they took Him to be crucified on the cross, telling them not to weep for Him, but to weep for themselves and their children. Jesus wept, because the heart of God was touched by the pain of suffering humanity

. Precious in the sight of God are the tears of His people. The Bible says that our tears are so precious to God that we should pray: "Put thou my tears in thy bottle." What value do you put on your tears in the bottle of God? Each tear drop is more precious than the rarest pearl or the most exquisite diamond. Therefore, rest in the assurance that God remembers you, when trouble is all around and tears are falling down. Rest in this blessed assurance: you are the apple of God's eye.

Yes, it is absolutely true, God's loving heart is always touched when you weep in sorrow, as you are overcome by your own personal pain. However, I believe His heart is even more deeply touched when you weep with those who weep, feeling not only your own pain, but the pain of others. In the sight of God tears of compassion are even more precious than tears of sorrow. When the love of God in you can reach out beyond your pain, beyond your self to feel the pain of others, then your tears become the TEARS OF GOD. God is loving them through you, and weeping for them in you. Precious... so precious are those tears: as the moon reflects the the light of the sun, so you reflect the love of God, when you shine with His compassion.

Have you wept before? Are you weeping now? Then there is a blessing in store for you. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who weep for they shall be comforted." The Word of God says, "Those that sow in tears shall reap in joy," and also, "Weeping may endure through the night, but joy cometh in the morning." Yes, my dear friend, this world is filled with troubles and sorrows, but we look forward to the time when God shall wipe away all our tears.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, I pray that you will give me your heart of love, your eyes of compassion, and your healing hands to heal the broken hearted with your tender, loving touch. Give me a heart like yours, Lord, to weep with those who weep. In Jesus name, Amen. In the following topic, "Were you there?" let me invite you to go back in time to the Resurrection. This is possible through the power of meditation upon the Word, and the vehicle of your imaginaion.