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. God is God. Does He experience the same pain we do? As a child I was told that rain was evidence of God’s tears. He created every part of humanity including tear ducts to wash away the impurities of life. Jesus is God and He wept on more than one occasion.

When we hurt – when our bodies are filled with pain – when our emotions overtake us – when the world seems to be out of control – 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 the tears can’t be held back no matter how hard we try. It is then that we pray.

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 our sin on His back.  Your tears must’ve been uncontrollable.  Yet on the third day you brought Him back to life.  He walked the earth again, preparing His disciples for the work ahead and then 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.  Amen!