It was a typical after-worship scene. Children were playfully expending energy that had been harnessed during the past hour of quiet, reverent worship. A young father was talking to me when suddenly he heard the cry of his little boy. His son and another child had collided. Knowing his dad was near, the five-year old ran quickly to him. He was holding his head, telling quickly and tearfully what happened. The young dad put his arms around the little guy while he shed big crocodile tears. He cried until he had cried the hurt away. Soon, he dried his face and ran off to expend more energy.

Though it was a typical scene, it struck me as a beautiful image of what God, our Father, does for us, his children. When life seems to knock us down, we go to him with our tears and our hurts. David knew the comfort of taking his sorrows and fears to the Lord. He said, “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle…” (56:8). Life dealt him a strong blow. He was hated and hunted for years. But through it all he called to God, received comfort, and trusted in divine deliverance, not just once, but on many occasions. “In You, O Lord, I put my trust…Deliver me…and cause me to escape…Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually…for You are my rock and my fortress” (71:1-3).

When we sorrow, God will collect our tears in His bottle and give us comfort. When we’re fearful, He will wrap arms of hope and trust around us. When we seemingly collide with the world, He will be an avenue of escape and deliverance. Let us run to Him, casting all our care on Him, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). We can be assured … our Father is always near!

Today’s challenge: Read Psalm 70 – Give my thoughts of anguish and alarm to the Lord.

Today’s verse:“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed
away” (Rev. 21:4).

Teresa Hampton