The Jar of Tears

A few months ago I gave a devotion on fear at a local event.  We looked at 1 John 4:18 and how perfect love drives out fear.  We know that this perfect love only comes from the Father above and we know that He is always good, so we don't need to be afraid.

Sounds really simple, right?

If we know this about love, we don't need to be afraid.  However, sometimes life throws you a curve ball and fear creeps in.  A couple of months ago, I found myself feeling very guilty for being afraid.  I would cry myself to sleep and then feel horribly ashamed for having done so -- only to have this repeated a couple of nights later. Then I stumbled across Psalm 56.  The writer opens by saying, ¨Whenever I am afraid, I trust in You.¨  It is as if the Psalmist has gone through great agony, because in verse 8, he reminds us that our tears are collected in a bottle, and that the Lord keeps record of them.

Now that is a beautiful picture.  Reflect on it for a moment -- God loves us so much that even when we are afraid and unable to trust Him, He collects our tears.  It isn't just that He knows how many we have shed.  He collects them and walks with us in love until the day the tears cease, when we are with Him in heaven.

So the next time you are afraid and you find the tears threatening to overflow, remember that the Lord will help you drive out that fear with His perfect love.