On a recent Sunday I was doing my daily devotion. Psalm 6 and Jeremiah 14 were in the queue. What God had me see was interesting.
I am exhausted as I groan;
all night long I drench my bed in tears;
my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.Psalm 6:6
All night long I drench my bed in tears. I made a note on the verse. I do not think I could cry all night long. I have groaned all night before. I remember a night recently where I knew the debauchery that was going on in someone’s life. This caused lots of groaning while in and out of sleep throughout the night.
Tell these people this, Jeremiah:
‘My eyes overflow with tears
day and night without ceasing.
For my people, my dear children, have suffered a crushing blow.
They have suffered a serious wound.’Jeremiah 14:17
God’s eyes overflow with tears day and night without ceasing. I just do not think my body could handle that – physically or emotionally. I am not sure I have said this before but there are days I want to avoid prayer so I can avoid the emotional response. The tears may not be physical but they are there emotionally. It is as if God is saying – it is OK to cry for these people. I will be with you and give you the strength you need. I will keep you and protect you just like I do through your own personal pain. Still I am apprehensive and doubt God’s faithfulness or maybe it is fear – probably both.
When I postpone prayer to postpone the anguish, am I being obedient? Of course not. I pray for His strength to help me pray the prayers I need to pray.