It's Okay to Cry...

"It is better to cry than to laugh. For crying blotches the face but scours the heart."       
 -Ecclesiastes 7:3(MSG)


I'm learning more and more that everyday  can't always be sunny with clear blue skies.  Sometimes, there are going to be gray clouds and a lot of rain, but we must learn to be grateful for those days too.  It's because of those dark cloud days we anticipate the sunshine even more and make the most out of our good times. 

One important thing we have to learn is to stop focusing in on our current situations..what it looks like now.  We often zoom in on EVERY NEGATIVE THING POSSIBLE and forget all the many things God has already worked out in our lives.  Instead of getting stuck on the problem itself, we need to start learning everything we need to know as to why God has us where we are. He didn't put you through this storm on accident.....it wasn't because He didn't check the weather.....it's because He knew that He had something for you to learn for whatever it is that is waiting for you in the next course of your life. He's preparing you.

Let me also be clear in saying crying is not an opportunity for you to be a spoiled brat and throw tantrums when you feel like God is moving too slow on your behalf.  Crying can sometimes just be a mere understanding that it's not going to be comfortable for a little bit while God is going to work on your situation.  It's perfectly human to shed some tears in our lowest moments, just as long as we know there's hope in God.

I really didn't understand the verse above until I looked up the word scour, which means to "get rid of imperfections" or to "purify." After doing some research, it makes sense now why it is better to go through than to not go through.  Some translations of the verse even say "for by sadness of the countenance the heart is made better and gains gladness." It's basically like the old saying "there's no testimony without a test."

I feel like with each test I'm learning a new ability and developing another strength and most importantly building my stamina because my race is not over. So the next time God throws a hurdle at you, jump that thing with pride....knowing that it's okay to cry....because they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.



-Leah

Bible Study
*For relating scriptures dealing with this post check out these verses:
Ecclesiastes 7:3
Psalm 126:5
James 1:2-16