Lent: Tears

Hold back your tears;

   don’t lose hope. (Jeremiah 31:16-17) 

Dear Anna,

I’m sorry to hear you did not get into Harvard or Yale, though you were interviewed by both. You had high hopes. You can’t help but be disappointed; even to tears. Tears are good. It means you care—that you have big aspirations and hopes. “‘Don’t lose hope!’ says the Lord” (Jr 31:17).

We try to comfort with phrases like: “God has a plan for your life;” or, “God closes one door to open another.” There’s truth to it. But we can’t speak the words of comfort until we allow sorrow to run its course. Lenten season allows us to sorrow with Jesus. Jesus wept. There is Easter Morning; but, between now and then, it is okay to cry. God allows us our tears. The Psalms are full of laments: “In my grief, I wondered if God really cares” (Ps 77 sung by the congregation).