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The Secret Place ... Read Primary
Chronicle
TEARS IN A BOTTLE …The Chronicle
(Psa
56:8 KJV) Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are
they not in thy book?
This illustration first came in mind picture form …before I
began doing art. I had been writing the introduction to the narrator (an
animated pencil) for one of my upcoming books. He (the pencil) was saying
that God could erase our mistakes. I was using the reference in Ps. 58:8
As I pondered the
scripture, I began to hear a splash as the tears dropped into the bottle –it
was as if the sound resounded throughout the universe. It did not go
unnoticed –God and all the heavenly hosts turned their attention to it.
I had not realized that
when David wrote this psalm, he was in the corridor of transition –going
from the place where he was anointed and toward the promise. Many times that
corridor seems long and dark –lonely and oh so unpleasant. In that place,
the place between the promise and the promotion, David felt like all hell
had been unleashed against him. He was contempt to his neighbors and dread
to his friends –slandered and lied about by his enemies –broken and
discouraged. In his anguish, he cried out to God. Even when we are tempted
to quit and give up on ourselves God never does. His word is working on us
when we are not working on it. (Isa. 55:11). His promises to you are yes and
amen …we need to realize this when things are seemly slow to manifest.
Instead, I saw individuals
even from childhood in a shadowy place –tears flowing –misunderstood,
abandoned, misused and abused. I could see God carefully allowing the tears
to collect in the bottle –saving them for a time when He could turn the pain
and wounds to something that would work for their good. (Rom. 8:28)
David was in tune with
God’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness. But even during the times when we were
not aware of Him - He was touched with the feelings of our infirmities.
Knowing Him, He could not turn a deaf ear to our cries even when we were not
crying out to Him; He was there patiently and lovingly waiting during our
wanderings.
Whenever you are going
through a time where the tears seem to want to flow, know that He is
listening... collecting them for they are precious. Or when your mind tries
to revisit that place of pain or that place of wounding –look at the
illustration and see that your tears were important enough to God to collect
in a bottle. You have never and never will be alone; His ears are attentive
to your cries. He turns your mourning into dancing. When you sow in tears
shall reap in joy. |
