MARCH 19
Psalm 56:8, “You have…put my tears in your bottle.”
I pulled over to the side of the highway, unable to hold back my tears. I had just taken my beloved dog, Rory, to the vet, and with her body ravaged by cancer, I had no choice but to say goodbye. The weight of it all was overwhelming. Laura’s cancer had already turned our world upside down. I had retired from my role as a pastor, and we had left our home and friends behind, moving far away. Rory had been a constant companion through all of this, but now she was gone. There were tears enough for every goodbye.
Does Jesus care? Not long after my experience, I preached a sermon centered on that question, focusing on the three occasions in Scripture when we are told that Jesus wept. He wept at the funeral of Lazarus, He wept over the impending destruction of Jerusalem, and He wept in the garden, anticipating the anguish of the cross.
Does God care about what you’re going through? In Psalm 56:8, we are told that God “puts our tears in a bottle.” David’s tears, countless as they were, didn’t just fall to the ground and fade away. No, God, being rich in mercy, collected each one. At the root of our tears lies the painful truth that we live in a broken and harsh world, one that produces suffering as naturally as weeds grow. Yet, the One who wept in the garden, who experienced the deepest anguish of all, cares for us profoundly. So deeply, in fact, that He faced the torment of death to rescue us from sin and eternal separation. One day, there will be no more tears—when He wipes every tear from our eyes in heaven (Revelation 21:4). But for now, we have a Savior who, through His own tears, showed us just how much He cares about ours.
“O yes, He cares, I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief.” – Frank E. Graeff
Application Questions: Recall the last time you wept. What was it that led to your tears? Have you sometimes wondered if God cares about what you are going through? Be comforted by the truth of his verse.
LookingtoJesus 