Have you ever wondered why we cry? Everyone does it, and at times it seems to be unavoidable. Healthy babies cry at birth, young children cry for a host of reasons, and even adults find themselves in tears from time to time. We never grow out of crying.
Our tears can communicate our deepest emotions. The psalmist wrote, “…give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears…” (Psalm 39:12). The writer is expecting and pleading with God to react and to respond to his crying. His tears communicate to God.
Our tears can be contagious. “Jesus wept” at the death of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35). In the previous verses, as He arrived on the scene and met with Mary, we read, “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping…He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33). Jesus saw Mary crying, saw her deepest emotions expressed, and Jesus Himself was moved to tears.
Our tears bring us closer together. Crying babies are often immediately held, crying children are usually quickly hugged, and even adults who find themselves overcome with emotion while in the presence of others will often be comforted by a hug or kind words.
Perhaps, it is by God’s design that we never grow out of crying. There are moments in this life when we seem to have no choice but to communicate our deepest emotions and to be comforted when we need that comfort the most. However, the day is coming when God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and we will never need to cry again (Revelation 21:4). On that day, we will not need to be comforted because we will find ultimate comfort in the presence of God.
Matt Langfield