Psalm 42 ~ my soul thirsteth for God

Psalm 42 ~ (American Standard Version )

1-3 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4 These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, How I went with the throng, and led them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him For the help of his countenance.

6-8 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: Therefore do I remember thee from the land of the Jordan, And the Hermons, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Yet Jehovah will command his lovingkindness in the day-time; And in the night his song shall be with me, Even a prayer unto the God of my life.

9-10 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine adversaries reproach me, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Tears are the subject today. We all have them. I've heard friends say they don't want to go to church after a trauma, even problem, because they will cry in church. And I have to say, a good cry is wonderful. I have cried a lot after my daughter Isabelle died & it was a great relief to sit down and have a good cry - almost as good as a relief/reset button. Yet, it is not relieving, or even wanted, sometimes, to cry in public. Almost everyone who has attended church has cried.

It is important to say what is experienced from unwanted emotional tears in church. When someone trustworthy asks, it is a shared bond. Those unwanted tears build up the body of Christ in compassion. It is not helpful to someone, especially after the loss of a child, to ask what is wrong. Obviously, a widow cries for a husband, a parent cries for a child. It is unhelpful to ask about a death at a party or social event. It is not wanted to receive an apology for missing the event, publicly. Sometimes the best response is merely to pat or rub someone's back. Compassion does not need to be verbal. Prayers do not need to be said out loud, our Father hears.

If you have experienced sadness & tears at church, it is Okay. Really. God honors the courage to cry in public. And there is more of it going on than you may have noticed. If you have ever put your whole body on the floor and cried to the Lord, don't you think, like I do, our Father, lovingly understands crying at the foot of the cross is the same as sniffing in public in church.

Many people have experienced overwhelming joy in church, as well. The awesome love of God sometimes gives us tears of joy, only the child of God understands at the moment!

Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Luke 12:32
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

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