The Ministry of Tears

I am weary with my groaning; all night I soak my pillow with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.

My tears have been my food day and night....

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not Your peace at my tears!  For I am Your Passing guest, a temporary resident, as all my fathers were. O ... spare me, that I may recover cheerfulness and encouraging fitness and experience gladness before I go....

I beseech You, O Lord, [earnestly] remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness and truth, and with a full heart [entirely devoted to You], and have done what is acceptable in Your sight.

I remember that Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court the word of the Lord came to him,  Turn back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, Thus says the Lord the God of David, your [forefather], I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears. May it be with me as it was with Hezekiah.

Like Paul, I seek to serve the Lord with all humility (with modesty, lowliness, and humble-mindedness), with many tears and in the midst of adversity and in the midst of the trials which follow me.

As even Jesus, in the days of His flesh, offered up specific, special petitions for that which He not only wanted but needed, and supplications, with strong crying and tears, so I come to You.

As the father responded to Jesus, so it is with me. I send an wholehearted, piercing, inarticulate cry with tears, and say, "Lord, I believe!  Constantly help my weakness of faith!"

You track and list my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?

I believe your promises. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. The Sovereign Lord will wipe the tears from all the faces.

These are the words of the Lord. Cease your urgent weeping. Shed no more tears. There shall be a reward for your toil.

The Lord has saved me from death; he stopped my tears and kept me from ruin. And so, I walk in the presence of the Lord in the world of the living. I keep on believing--trusting in, relying on and clinging to my God--even when I say, "I am completely crushed," even when I am afraid.... What can I offer the Lord for His kindness to me?

The ministry of tears is defined by Charles H. Spurgeon as "liquid prayer."  Job says, "My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God."  Know that I am interceding for you today.

2 Kings 20:35a (AMP)

Job 16:20 (NIV)

Psalm 6:6 (AMP)

Psalm 39:12-13 (AMP)

Psalm 42:3a (NKJV)

Psalm 56:8 (AMP)

Psalm 116:8 (NEV, AMP)

Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV)

Isaiah 25:8b (NIV)

Isaiah 38:3 (AMP)

Jeremiah 31:16a, b (NEB)

Mark 9:24 (AMP)

Acts 20:19 (AMP, NKJV)

Hebrews 5:7 (AMP)

Revelation 7:17(KJV)