Tears are often seen as something to hide—signs of weakness, embarrassment, or loss of control. But Scripture paints a different picture. Tears can be a sacred gift—evidence of love, repentance, longing, and deep connection with God and others. This week, we reflect on the gift of tears, and how God meets us in our sorrow with healing, hope, and grace.

Psalm 38 begins with a cry of anguish, not only from physical pain but from the weight of sin and isolation. The psalmist doesn’t hide his tears—he brings them to God. This is the first invitation of the week: to bring our pain, our regret, and our longing honestly before the Lord, trusting that He is near to the brokenhearted.

Throughout the week’s readings, we witness tears flowing from many places—reunion, conviction, compassion, betrayal, and loss. In Genesis 43, Joseph weeps at the sight of his brother Benjamin, a flood of emotion after years of separation. In Luke 19, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, mourning the peace they’ve refused to receive. In 1 Samuel 24, David’s vulnerability brings Saul to tears, if only for a moment, revealing how fragile and complicated our hearts can be.

And then there is Peter in Luke 22, weeping bitterly after denying Jesus. His tears are not the end of the story—they become the beginning of restoration. Likewise, John 11 brings us to the tomb of Lazarus, where Jesus Himself weeps. The Son of God does not bypass grief; He enters it fully, standing beside us in ours.

Even Philippians 3, a letter full of joy, includes a moment of weeping. Paul writes with tears over those who walk away from the way of Jesus, reminding us that even our longing for others to know Christ can bring us to tears.

This week, consider your own tears. What are they revealing? What sorrow, longing, or tenderness lies beneath them? Whether your tears come from joy, pain, or repentance, know this: God sees them all. In Christ, they are not wasted—they are gathered, treasured, and transformed. Tears can be a gift, softening our hearts and opening us to the deep work of God’s Spirit.

Readings
Sun: Psalm 38
Mon: Genesis 43:16-34
Tues: Luke 19:29-44
Wed: Philippians 3:12-21
Thurs: 1 Samuel 24:8-22
Fri: Luke 22:47-62
Sat: John 11:17-44