God Sees Your Tears
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” — Psalm 56:8 (NLT)
When author C.S. Lewis lost his beloved wife, Joy, to cancer, he poured out his sorrow in a journal that became the book A Grief Observed. He confessed, “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.”[1] His honesty reminds us that even great faith does not shield us from sorrow, but it does give us a place to bring our tears.
Grief is a journey often walked in silence. In the lonely spaces where no one else sees the pain, but God sees us. Psalm 56:8 reveals a comforting truth—God doesn’t dismiss our tears. He records them. He keeps them. He cares deeply about every drop that falls from our eyes.
The Bible doesn’t shy away from emotion. Job cried out. David wept. Jesus Himself sobbed at the tomb of Lazarus. Our tears are not weaknesses to be hidden, but offerings to be held by God. Grief may be loud and unpredictable or quiet and persistent, but in every form, it matters to God.
You do not need to explain your grief or try to be strong. God is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and He promises to heal the wounds that time cannot heal. When the ache returns uninvited or the silence grows louder, remember, God has not forgotten you or your pain. He bottles every tear.
Application:
Take a few minutes today to share your grief with God. Be honest. Let it all out. Then read Psalm 56:8 again and imagine Him holding those words, just as He holds your tears—with tenderness and care.
Reflection:
How does knowing that God keeps track of every tear change the way you view your grief?
Prayer:
God, You see me when I cry. You care about every sorrow I carry. Help me to trust that my pain is not wasted and that You are walking with me through this valley. Thank You for holding my tears and holding my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read More: Revelation 21:4; Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 53:3–4; John 11:35; Romans 8:26 (NIV)
Theme Tag: Devotion1 Hope in Grief and Loss
[1] C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (New York: HarperOne, 2001), 1.
