Last week, I mentioned a book I wrote several years ago about how God kept his promise to be close to the broken hearted and save those who are crushed in spirit. In the book, The Lord is Close, I share the story of God’s faithfulness during a season of deep, overwhelming grief. In the previous episode, I talked about one of two things I learned at the time about tears. If you haven’t already heard it, I hope you’ll check it out. The second lesson about tears is spelled out in today’s declaration: God made sure my tears can heal me.

God’s design for tears was proven by a scientific study that came out the year after my son died. My hope for today’s episode is to do away with the lie that we shouldn’t cry.

Jesus is our best role model, and if he wept than it’s definitely okay to cry. He knows the healing power of tears.

In Philippians 4:9, Paul wrote, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (NIV).

Paul is also a role model who cried many tears. Let’s put to bed the lie that big boys don’t cry. Any teaching that admonishes us not to cry keeps us from the healing God designed for us through our tears. Which brings me back to the scientific study. Research scientists collected human tears for analysis, and compared tears resulting from an emotional response to those shed from allergies, onions and the like. The chemical make-up of the tears was different. The emotionally shed tears contained within them the chemical in our bodies that causes depression. God designed crying for a special purpose. It actually expels the depression building up inside. If anxiety, fear or depression are assailing you, you might need a good cry.

Don’t forget to download the graphic that goes with today’s episode. You’ll find it—along with the graphics for all my episodes—on my podcast page at this link: Shawna’s Blog – Bible Teacher | Author | Shawna Marie Bryant

This week’s scripture: John 11:32-36, Hebrews 5:7, Acts 20:19 and 2 Corinthians 2:4