Sweet Release

Jul 29 2016 Sweet Release

You are blessed when the tears flow freely…

Luke 6:21 The Message

My tears flow freely these days. Ugly. Cry.

Luke 6:21 says we will be “blessed when the tears flow freely.” Really? Blessed?

Happy tears aside, I’m not feeling the blessings when my eyes are blurring, and my nose is running. This is mostly because tears are evidence of pre-tears pain—the once-again reminder that life downright stinks sometimes.

Yet, despite this, these drops are a God-given gift, a sweet release—a blessing.

We often feel ashamed of our waterworks. Our society heralds the strong ones (what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger!). We discount our pain. I’m not saying we should stay, dwell, and live here forever. But we must learn to tend to our pain biblically and healthily.

I ran into a friend the other day and quickly fought back tears as we chatted, wiping my eyes so he would see no evidence. I thought to myself how silly I was, crying in the middle of the day at a coffee bar.

You see, I’m often held hostage by the “should’s”or “shouldn’t.” I suspect you may experience this, too. Instead of tending to the hurt behind the tears, I put on my big girl pants and press on.

There are sooo many others with bigger problems; I shouldn’t be so upset about this!

I shouldn’t need this much time to heal. I should be over this already.

I shouldn’t let the house get so messy! What if someone stops by?

My kids are bored; I should spend more time entertaining them. 

Now, life does go on. There are responsibilities that need attention. However, there are to-do’s that can be shelved for now, nonurgent things that can wait.

When I don’t give myself proper time and space to grieve, the emotions turn ugly and come out through improper channels: anger towards my kids, overreacting to minor stressors, and adverse health.

…Be sure that human feelings can never be completely stiffled. If they are forbidden their normal course, like a river they will cut another channel through the life and flow out to curse and ruin and destroy.”  A.W. Tozer

I see the design and purpose in the ugly cry: blessing comes from heart healing.

I am learning to tend to my pain. There is no formula, and I will not stay here forever. I can’t. I’m not allowing the “shoulds” and the “shouldn’ts” to roadblock my process. I’m letting non-essentials go and letting the tears flow.

As a result, I’m blessed and cleansed on my healing journey, believing that joy is around the corner.

A God-given, sweet release.

Dear Lord,

May we not stifle our feelings. May God reveal to us our lesser priorities so we may tend to our heart’s pain. May we give ourselves grace by understanding that everyone grieves at their own pace. We give ourselves permission to feel what we feel, to bring it to you, and to seek a counselor if needed.

We will get through this even if we never fully get over it, Lord. In turn, we may comfort others who are walking through similar trials.

Thank You, Jesus, for holding our tears in a bottle, for cleansing us with sweet relief, and for the joy waiting around the corner.

Amen

PC: Gettyimages and Unsplash