“Past tears are present strength.” - George MacDonald
Current tears open opportunities for growth, though painful. With blurred vision and broken hearts, our faithful God leads us to places of His choosing that we cannot see yet. We can’t see past what God reveals to us. Sometimes it is only one step visible at a time. Sometimes it is staying still and waiting for Him to show the next step because all we can feel is fog.
Our past tears seem to clear our perspectives giving us more knowledge of truth through hindsight. When we come through the tears with the Lord’s help, no matter what the outcome, our faith is strengthened because we realize the Lord was with us through it all.
If our tears bring us more closely in fellowship with Christ, even through suffering, then should we not consider being thankful for tears?
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" -Philippians 3:10 KJV
In the midst of tears, it's easy to forget any good could come through them. It is not natural to think of thankfulness in tears, but God's Word offers these consolations.
"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" -Psalm 56:8 KJV
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." -Psalm 30:5 KJV
Are you thankful for tears? I usually am not until later. These promises from God are true, and I need to intentionally remind myself of them. Remember God sees every tear cried, knows every sorrow, and He cares. ~ jlw
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