Manna From Heaven: 5 Days of Nourishment for the SoulSample

Try Tears

In the 1920s, a group of Salvation Army soldiers were sent into the ghettos of Los Angeles in order to bring the hope of the Gospel to hurting people. After three years of laboring with little to no results, this discouraged team sent a telegram to their Salvation Army founder, General William Booth,

“It just won’t work. We have tried everything. The Gospel is just not being received here.”

A couple days later they received the following two word telegram from General Booth,

“Try Tears.”

Do we ache inside to the point of tears for those around us? We can almost feel the pain of the Apostle Paul as he writes these words with his tears, “My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people…”

On numerous occasions throughout the gospels, we read that Jesus was filled with compassion for those around him. (Luke 7:13; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 20:34; Mark 8:2-3)

The word for compassion in Greek means “to be moved as to one’s bowels.” The intestines were thought to be the seat of love and pity. Jesus literally felt like his intestines were turning inside out for those he encountered. It was a deep anguish.

It’s so easy to grow numb to the pain around us. We hear horrible things in the news without a second thought. If we’re not careful, our hearts become hardened and callous toward things that break God’s heart.

I’m ashamed to say that my eyes have become dry on many occasions. When I’m not close to the heartbeat of Jesus, a spiritual drought begins to slowly dry up my soul. Eventually, the Lord will gently tug at my heartstrings through something or someone and warm tears begin filling dry riverbeds.

It’s good to cry. May we not be ashamed to ask for more tears in our lives.

Reflection: If you’ve felt dry, lift up this prayer, “Father, I ask that you break my heart with the things that break Yours. Stamp eternity on my eyes and give me tears for those who are hurting all around me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”