“be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?””
We take heart and have confidence in realising that there is no shame in our tears. We hide away and feel shame and loneliness in our emotions but God never leaves us and our tears are so precious to Him that He bottles them to deal with the their source.
“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”
He wants us to be honest in our loss, grief and sorrow but equally not to wallow in them giving the enemy the chance to sow seeds of thoughts of being woeful, jealous and feeling victimised. The enemy will torment us in that place and rob us of our sense of true identity and hope.
We can be free and healed when we hold onto the truth of our value to God and others and from there regain contentment in our souls.
We have to rebalance what is transitory and know it will pass and that there is more to life and eternity than, what by comparison, are momentary blips.
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
We counter our experience with getting hope to return into our spirit. As we meditate on eternity and not the momentary loss of grief.
Our vision becomes clearer when we recall the brief transition of this life in eternity.
Suffering tests our character. Jesus stores it up along with all the treasures of what we do for Him and others.
Insecurity and discontent are symptoms of when we are focusing and attempting to be in control of ourselves instead of submitting and relying on Him.
Our heart has peace and contentment when we have no shame in sharing our emotions and being real. Then we walk in truth.
Especially in the west we have learnt to hide our deep emotions in a delusion that this shows maturity to be in control.
In reality we do ourselves and others a favour to be transparent and not bottle feelings and experiences up to the point of exploding held in restraint.
Kingdom culture allows Christ to redefine us as we face our emotions and let them have expression in the knowledge of trusting His gentleness.
Within Him is a place we can come and rest and take refuge and be made perfect and healthy so that we can become our purpose and destiny in breaking down walls and barriers.
“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.”
Discerning the Holy Spirit operating within and upon us sets us free. It breaks the cycle of separateness and stirs us to reach out and connect.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
The illustration shows on the one side us in the natural bottling up emotions of loss, grief, anger, jealousy building up unhealthy pressure to the point of explosion whilst on the other God is collecting our every tear to treasure in his bottle of healing in our spirit. Light emanating to push back the darkness.
Five Scriptures that come to mind:
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV
“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” Psalm 56:8 ESV
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 ESV
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV
“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:27 ESV
The song So Will I. Benjamin Hastings
Lessisgreater 