I grew up watching John Wayne movies, where the ultimate man would not allow an injury to keep him from accomplishing his task. Yet what is a person to do when we feel hurt, disappointed, wounded, or broken? I have come to understand that the surprising answer in the Bible comes from the significant number of times the word “bitter” is used to describe our tears. In tandem with learning the art of biblical lament our Lord invites us to discover the place of bitter tears. David was a warrior of warriors, yet he is often seen in the psalms as a man of tears, and who shares his pain to the Lord. This is not to say that tears are the key to overcoming sinful expressions of bitterness. We must understand that we each process our emotions differently, and the last thing we want to do is advocate legalistic expectations. We read these words in Psalm 6:6-7 concerning David, “I am worn out with my groaning; All night long I flood my bed with weeping, I drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; They fail because of my foes”. (NIV). Understand that Bitter tears can motivate us to find direction in the midst of our circumstances. As we pour our hearts out to our Creator and Sustainer, we can work through our emotions which are rooted deep in our hearts. Practicing spiritual candor and weeping bitterly can help us determine the core issues of God’s sovereign plan and purpose, even in the midst of our grief. What this does, is helps keep us from developing a bitter heart and life. While Doctors can work to mend the Body, on God can help us mend our hearts. He is the one who created us, and in the midst of our bitter circumstances, we can learn that God has a purpose in allowing these things come into our lives. Knowing that there is a good purpose, even if we cannot see it or understand it, can give us hope and perspective in the midst of bitter circumstances. Our struggle is learning to trust God when we cannot see the end of a matter. The key here is embracing the promises of God’s Word, knowing that God has a plan and purpose in allowing these events, and that our plight is always before our God. Know that our emotions are real, and while we can not allow them to dictate our responses, it is important to acknowledge our emotions, and to work through them.
