The sound of gently falling rain upon a tin roof can be irritating or restful depending on your state of mind.  A drenching upon the dry soil can be a welcome relief or it can flood things freshly planted and carry them away.  When we cry, our hearts are usually heavy because of sadness or loss, but there are also tears of joy which come when something miraculous happens or your heart is so full it can no longer hold the joy inside.

I sometimes wonder if rain falls as a result of God’s sadness over the world.  He certainly has reason to cry.  Our world is full of hatred, anger, fear, self absorption and desperation.  We can’t escape the evil which is allowed to permeate the heart of man.

When our world was first created perfectly by God, it was good.  Rain wasn’t necessary because a large canopy was placed over the environment to self nourish the soil and provide living water for all things.  Sin entered in and along with it came weeds to infect the perfection of creation.  The soil grew hard to work.  Paradise was ruined because of man’s disobedience to God.  God’s patience continued and at just the right moment His tears fell in torrents and destroyed all living things except for one family and two of every species of life.

When we hurt – when our bodies are filled with pain – when our emotions overtake us – we cry.  We sometimes can’t control those tears and they become so much a part of us that we become depressed or emotionally broken.  God is all powerful, all knowing and always present in our lives and that should fill our hearts with hope, but sometimes we can’t stop crying.  The tears won’t be held back no matter how hard we try.

Lord, you know all about pain and suffering.  You watched as your only Son was subjected to ridicule, slander and physical abuse.  You saw Him placed in a tomb  with the weight of all our sin buried with Him.  Your tears must’ve been unbearable.  Yet on the third day you brought Him back to life.  He walked the earth again, preparing His disciples for the work ahead and the ascended into heaven 40 days later.  We have your promise that He will come again on the last day and take away all our tears.  Thank you for your love, for your patience and your tears of love.  Amen!