January 31, 2022
He Weeps for You
Suzanne Eller
Today’s Truth
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled (John 11:33 NIV).
Friend to Friend
I knew the news was going to be hard, but I didn’t realize how hard until the phone call finally came. For the next several days I bounced between sorrow and disbelief, mingled with gratitude.
I was thankful for the brief time I would have with this person I loved. I was grateful for every moment and every memory. I was also sad. There were days tears came without warning, bathing my face as my hurting heart tried to work through the reality of what was taking place.
Did you know that Jesus grieved too?
In John 11, Martha stumbles toward Jesus. Her brother Lazarus is dead. Sorrow marks Martha’s very being.
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled” (John 11:33 NIV).
Jesus is so moved that He weeps (vs. 35). He isn’t just weeping with her. He is weeping for her. Jesus knew that Lazarus would soon be resurrected from the dead. There was a miracle waiting just around the corner.
His tears were for her pain. Her loss. Her grief.
I’ve taken refuge in this verse the past few weeks, and I’ll take shelter in it in the months to come. I’m thankful that Jesus is not oblivious to loss or our sorrow. And, even more profound, I’m grateful that Jesus sees our troubled hearts and His tears join ours.
Why is this comforting?
- It’s comforting because it helps us to embrace sorrow as part of the grieving experience. We are not required to hide our tears. Those tears reflect the love we have for that person. Allowing our tears to fall is healing and healthy.
- It’s comforting because it allows sorrow to dance with gratitude. We make room for our grief, even as we recognize that our faith, His presence, and those who love and support us in times like this, are such a gift.
- It’s comforting because as we grieve, it will allow sorrow to ebb, bit by bit, even though our love for that person will never fade.
- It’s comforting because there are still miracles ahead. We don’t know what those miracles look like, but we don’t have to. Jesus does, and we can trust that.
I don’t know what loss you’ve encountered or what you are grieving today, but I know this: Jesus sees your hurting heart and His tears mingle with your own.
My prayer is, that like me, you can take comfort in that. You are loved. You are seen. He weeps with you.
Let’s Pray
Jesus, tears come without warning. I understand they are not a sign of weakness, but a demonstration of the depth of love I have for this person. The thought that You weep with me is beautiful, for Your tears are a demonstration of Your love for me. Thank You so much for that beautiful gift in this time of sorrow. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
How does the news that Jesus weeps for you help you in your sadness?
I’ve been told that “tears are the sweat work of grief.” They allow you to feel, to understand what is going on in your heart, to accept what you cannot change, to live, and to begin to heal.
Understanding that you don’t grieve alone is healing. Give yourself permission to let those tears fall.
More from the Girlfriends
One joy stealer is the belief that God is disappointed when we are sad, or when we feel any other strong emotion. God not only created you to feel, He cares about how you feel. When we are honest with God about our emotions, we not only give ourselves permission to feel, but to begin to heal.
Read the first chapter of JoyKeeper absolutely free.
© 2022 by Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.
Originally published Monday, 31 January 2022.
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