Weeping? Crying?

Is there a legitimate place for crying?

Maybe you lost a father, a mother, a sibling, or a close friend. When you looked into that familiar face in the casket, you knew that you would not see this dear one again. Did you cry? Maybe you had a husband or wife treat you badly and even leave you. Did you weep in the midst of this turmoil and rejection? Perhaps you were involved in the disintegration of a community of believers. This may have brought on much weeping.

It may be that you are in the midst of great pain that has come on you through physical distress and struggles. Did this cause you to weep—or is it presently causing you to weep? And it may be that your child has turned away, been unkind, and brought shame. We suppose that this too has been the cause of much grief and weeping. We could go on and on, for life here is filled with grief. As Job lamented, our lives are “full of turmoil” (Job 14:1b).

If you are a student of Scripture, you are aware that we do have references to weeping on some of the pages. For example, Jeremiah the prophet has been called the “weeping prophet.” This prophet lamented, “Oh that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night” (9:1).We further read: “If you will not listen to it, my soul will sob in secret for such pride; and my eyes will bitterly weep and flow down with tears, because the flock of the LORD has been taken captive” (13:17).

In the new covenant writings, we also read about Jesus’ response to the death of his friend, Lazarus: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). The Jews responded, “See how He loved him!” (v. 36). At least these Jewish observers thought that our Lord was touched by the death of His friend. Remember too that when He approached the city of Jerusalem, “Jesus saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41). What went through His mind? Why did He weep?

When the Lord was being led to the place of crucifixion, there were a group of women with Him, “mourning and lamenting Him” (Luke 23:27b). Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children” (v. 28). The Lord knew that in only a generation, a huge number of people would be mercilessly killed or starved and the city would be destroyed. Tears were in order for this coming devastation!

Paul the apostle likewise wept—for the false teachers about whom he wrote: “Many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18). I wonder if we have this much concern for people that we are willing to weep for them—including those who go astray and are unfaithful?

When the apostle spoke to the elders of Ephesus, he said, “Be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:31). In fact, earlier in his discourse, Paul said that he was “serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews” (v. 19). Do we have this much involvement in our service for the Lord—so much so that we weep?

Perhaps you also remember Paul’s words to the Corinthians as he reminded them of his response: “Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears” (2 Corinthians 2:4a). Have you penned a letter or written a letter with such tears? Paul did.

It is clear that Jeremiah and Paul and others sometimes wept as they thought of others—either brothers in the Lord or enemies of the Lord. Think also of Timothy, the young man who was committed to Paul. When Paul wrote to him, he said, “I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy” (2 Timothy 1:3-4). Do you remember the tears of others shed for you? Do you remember the tears that you shed for others?

And as Paul was on his last trip to Jerusalem, as he stayed for a time in Caesarea, he found that many sought to persuade him not to go to this capital city. Paul responded to their earnest entreaties, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?” (Acts 21:13). The apostle could see that these people loved him so much that they wept for him and feared for his safety. Do we have such crying for brothers and sisters who are in danger—either physically or spiritually?

Have you noticed a general pattern to at least some of these Biblical instances of weeping? Many of them refer to weeping for others! They may refer to crying for evil ones or crying to dear ones. And we also see weeping as a human emotion. Maybe this is why Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. Some also suggest that He may have wept because He knew the devastating results of sin and death. We are to weep for all. Paul commanded the Romans, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (12:15).

Many of us have grown up with the idea that adults never cry; People say that this is only for babies and children. Yes, is for them, but it may also come to the tender-hearted adult at other times, for other reasons, in different situations. In the case of the verses we’ve examined above, sometimes we weep for those who are lost and under judgment and weep for brothers and sisters who have gone astray. And we weep also for those who are facing hard times, such as health issues, financial issues, or family issues. God is concerned for them all. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18a).

If you weep for any good thing or weep for the trials of life, remember that weeping will one day end!  The trials of earth will be no more. The difficulties of this life will be gone. The joys of God’s presence will be unending! “God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17b). I look forward to the fulfillment as found in Revelation 21:4: “He [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Until then, let us remember the welcome words of Proverbs 30:b: “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” That shout of joy will be ours if we are loving Jesus, serving Him and belong to Him!