A BOTTLE FOR OUR TEARS

"You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" (Psalm 56:8)

For the believer, life is often filled with unpleasantness. Truly, we are "sojourners and pilgrims" (1 Pet 2:11) in this world. What is one to do about this situation? For some, such times cause them to be overtaken with grief, and sometimes even bitterness of soul. It is not unusual to hear of people even abandoning the faith because of life's hardships. This does not need to be the case.

Our Lord is ever mindful of our condition, even though circumstance may seem to say He is not. The Psalmist knew this, and often breathed prayers to God concerning his experiences. In this text, for example, his life is described as "my wanderings." It is as though he was in a constant state of unrest–like the Israelites in the wilderness. The RSV translates the word "wanderings" as "tossings," as though he were being severely jostled from one side to another many times.

In faith the Psalmist acknowledges the Lord kept count of his wanderings–his difficult times. None of them had escaped His attention. None of them began without His watchful and considerate eye, and none of them lasted longer than the Psalmist's strength. Child of God, you must believe this is also true of you!

Tears often accompany trials. In such times, a sense of futility tries to grip the soul of the believer. Sometimes these tears are "continual," and cannot be stopped by an act of the will. They flow like rivers, and water our beds (Psa 6:6; 42:3). Still, the faithful soul knows such tears are not wasted, whatever their cause, nor are they forgotten by God. Even our crying is noted by our heavenly Father.

There is a record of every believer's tears in heaven! The Psalmist says God has put them in His "bottle," and written them in His "book" of remembrance. Our mighty Intercessor has also been "touched with the feeling of infirmity" they have produced. To such tender spirits He will vouchsafe sustaining grace, enabling them to complete their race. He will not forget what or who made them cry, and He will not fail to eventually wipe such tears from both their faces and their memory forever.

So when you cry, recollect that God remembers! Believe your tears have been stored up in His bottle and written in His book. Remember that He will one day wipe them all away. Until then, He will sustain you when you cry, and make you stronger than your circumstances. He will also give you blessed relief. Wait, I say, on the Lord!