| Many are the tears that have been shed by God’s people in this sin-cursed and hostile world: tears of grief, tears of regret and remorse, tears of repentance, tears of helplessness, tears of concern, and even sometimes tears of joy. And the Lord knows about them all and keeps account of them all. Most of us can put ourselves in the place of the psalmist when he said that “my tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” Many of God’s dear servants like Paul are “serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears,” and have “ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.” Many a letter has been written by the saints of which it may be said that “I wrote unto you with many tears,” and many dear children of God can say with David, “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.” God permits these heartaches and tears for a purpose, and He counts all our tears. “In all their affliction He was afflicted … and He bare them, and carried them,” and His word to Hezekiah comes home to our hearts: “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears.” And the time is fast approaching when “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” |
