You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:8 ESV)
Far too many people in the church today have a mistaken understanding of God. They see Him as a distant, disconnected deity, not a personal God who is intimately involved with His creation. This idea is as far from the truth as the east is from the west! And the psalmist knew the truth personally, exulting that God cared so much as to collect his tears in His bottle and record them in His book.
Is this the view of God you have today? Do you know by way of personal experience that you have not shed a single tear that has not been collected by your Savior? I hope this knowledge will fill you with a sense of cosmic comfort, regardless of where this message finds you. Consider for a moment that not a single one of your tears falls to the ground that Jesus has not noticed and recorded in His book, just as He has numbered every hair on your head (Matthew 10:30). Your Savior is concerned with each and every one of your sorrows.
David penned today’s verse while he was a prisoner of the Philistines. Yet he was certain that God was still in control and was caring for him, even as a prisoner of war. David knew that God never turned away from him. God remembered his pain and sorrow and tears, and because David knew this, he could trust in God even when it was quite difficult to trace Him.
Now, I don’t know how full your bottle of tears is today, but I can assure you, Jesus does. Every sorrow has been recorded in His book. Perhaps your sorrow does not rival that of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, who wondered “if there is any sorrow like my sorrow” (Lamentations 1:12). But make no mistake, not a single one of your tears has been shed unnoticed by your Savior. And that means that there is purpose in your pain. Every painful providence has divine purpose attached to it. In God’s perfect plan for your imperfect life, even your bitter tears play a role for your good in your sanctification, conforming you into the image and likeness of Christ.
One final point that should bless you immeasurably. The picture of Jesus tracking your tears should bring to mind just how personal and intimate He has made your relationship to Him. In no way is He some aloof and disinterested deity. Jesus is with you. Jesus is for you. Jesus is in you. And one day soon, when you cross the Jordan, “He will wipe every tear from your eyes . . . for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
You have a Savior who knows you intimately and who loves you deeply. He loves you so much that He laid down His life for you! And He loves you so much that no sigh, no sorrow, no sob of yours ever escapes His attention.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 