Tag: Tears

When the Mind Won’t Settle

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When the Mind Won’t Settle: Renewing Your Thinking in a World Gone Mad
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Romans 12:2 (KJV): “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

There’s something sacred about early mornings.

You know the kind I’m talking about—when the coffee’s brewing, the house is still, and your Bible’s open to a page your heart’s been aching for. 

I sat in one of those moments not long ago, thumbing through the twelfth chapter of Romans. That’s when the words hit me square between the eyes: “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

I sipped my coffee, closed my eyes, and let that verse do what the Holy Spirit does best—poke around in places I’d rather keep tidy and untouched.

Because, truth is, my mind doesn’t always do what it’s supposed to.

Maybe yours doesn’t either.

The Real Battleground

These days, we don’t have to look far to find pressure—social media feeds, news cycles, workplace demands, family expectations. It’s a full-blown barrage of noise. Somewhere in the mess, we pick up voices that aren’t our own. Or worse, we amplify the wrong ones.

You’re not good enough.
You’ll never be like them.
You’re too old.
You’ve missed your chance.
God’s forgotten you.

Sound familiar?

The world wants to shape us—to mold our thinking until we’re anxious, reactive, and spiritually worn thin. 

But Romans 12:2 calls us out of that mindset. It reminds us we have a choice:
We can conform or we can transform.

And the difference happens right up here—in our minds.

From Imposter Syndrome to God-Confidence

Before I retired, I was part of a team of young engineers in the IT division of a Fortune 500 company. I was old enough to be their father—sometimes even their grandfather. Most had fancy advanced degrees, bright ideas, and ambition that could light up a city block. They were fast. Sharp. Culturally fluent.

And I’ll admit it—every now and then, I wondered if I still had anything to offer.

That’s imposter syndrome for you.

But I’d learned a long time ago that confidence doesn’t come from diplomas or titles—it comes from knowing who you are in Christ. 

So when the doubts crept in, I didn’t perform harder or pretend stronger. I prayed. I opened the Word. And I let the Lord renew my mind.

You see, the mind of Christ doesn’t echo the world’s judgment. It speaks truth.

It tells us:
You’re chosen.
You’re equipped.
You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be—if you’re walking with Me.

The Daily Work of Renewal

Renewing your mind isn’t a one-and-done event. It’s not like taking a pill that fixes everything overnight. It’s more like washing your windshield after driving through a Texas thunderstorm—necessary, messy, and done more than once.

It happens when we open the Bible before opening our phones.
When we pause to pray before firing off that email.
When we speak Scripture over our anxiety instead of letting the anxiety do all the talking.

Some days, it feels like you’re making progress. Other days, you’re just holding ground. But either way, you’re showing up—and that matters.

God honors the process. He transforms little by little, thought by thought.

How We Show Up Changes Everything

And here’s the kicker—this spiritual renewal doesn’t just stay inside you.
It spills over.

When your mind is transformed, your choices change.
Your leadership changes.
Your relationships shift.
You stop reacting to chaos, and start responding with grace.
You stop performing for approval, and start living from a place of peace.

In Christ, we lead with integrity—not ego.
We serve with compassion—not competition.
We forgive. We listen. We love well.

We begin to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” with our lives—not just our words.

Let the Word Be Louder

Maybe today your mind is crowded with worry.
Maybe you’re overwhelmed with decisions.
Maybe the voices in your head have been too loud, for too long.

Friend, take heart.

You are not alone.
You are not crazy.
And you are not stuck.

You just need a reset—a holy rewiring that only comes through the Word of God.

Let Scripture be the soundtrack of your thoughts.
Let truth drown out the fear.
Let Christ’s voice get the final say.

Because when we renew our minds, we remember what the world wants us to forget:
We are deeply loved.
We are fully known.
We are eternally secure in Jesus Christ.

So pull up a chair.
Pour another cup of coffee.
And open that Bible.

Your thoughts don’t have to run the show anymore.
The renewing of your mind starts now.

Grace and Peace,
Jimmie

📖 Romans 12:2 still speaks. Let it speak to you today.
✍️ Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler
🌐 jimmiekepler.com | 📰 jimmiekepler.substack.com

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print

 

One Day at a Time

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🎙️ One Day at a Time: What I Learned After the Doctor Said “Melanoma”
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

It was about this time in June 2015. The kind of hot Texas day where the pavement wavers like a mirage and the sky looks too bright for bad news. But bad news doesn’t wait for cloud cover.

We were sitting in a cold room full of diplomas and sterile walls when the doctor cleared her throat and gave me a look I’ll never forget. She said, “Your wife has advanced stage three melanoma. We’ve scheduled surgery in two days.”

I didn’t say much. Just nodded while my insides twisted like barbed wire.

That word—melanoma—hit like a fist to the gut. 

And it came two years after her first diagnosis: neuroendocrine carcinoid. That’s the same rare cancer that took down Steve Jobs, and now it was taking its time with my bride. 

They told us plain, looked my wife in the eye: This is serious. I’ll do the surgery to remove the melanoma. If the it recurs after the surgery, it will kill you. I want you to understand this will be terminal. You will die, and even if by some miracle the melanoma progresses slowly, then the neuroendocrine carcinoid will take your life. She added, You need to get your affairs in order.

You don’t ever forget hearing something like that. (Sadly, only ninety days later a PET scan showed the melanoma had recurred.)

The World Got Quieter After That

Everything slowed down. Even the birds outside seemed to hush. You don’t think about grocery lists or emails after news like that. You think about holding her hand. About how your children and her sisters are gonna take it. About how long you’ve got left to tell her all the things you meant to say over the years.

I won’t walk you through the medical side of it. That was her fight, her pain, and she bore it with a kind of grace that still humbles me. She had her team of doctors, specialists, and treatments stacked high like a pile of phone books. But my focus wasn’t on prescriptions or procedures.

I went looking for God.

My Bible Became My Lifeline

I turned to the scriptures like a thirsty man turns to a well. I’d wake up early, stop on my way to work at Starbucks for a blonde roast coffee, and sit with the Word in one hand and my aching heart in the other.

And over and over, one verse kept coming back like a faithful friend:

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”— Matthew 6:34 (KJV)

That’s Jesus talking. He wasn’t sugarcoating life—He was giving us a way to survive it.

What That Verse Meant to Me

I read it a dozen times before it sank in:
Today is enough. Don’t drag tomorrow’s troubles into it.

I couldn’t fix her diagnosis. Couldn’t plan a perfect future. But I could hold her hand on that day. I could sit beside her while she napped. I could whisper prayers when she was too tired to say her own.

When I stopped staring into the fog of what might be, I started seeing what was—God’s presence, right in the middle of the mess.

A Prayer from a Worn-Out Caregiver

Father in Heaven, help me live in the now.
Let me see You in this moment, even when the moments are hard.
Help me let go of tomorrow’s worries and take hold of the grace You’ve given me today.
I don’t know what’s coming next, Lord, but I know You’ll be there when it does.
And that’s enough for me. Amen.

Looking Back

My wife passed in 2018. And though the pain of her absence lingers, so does the peace I found in that verse. God didn’t promise easy. He promised enough—enough strength for today, enough grace for the heartache, enough hope to keep walking.

So if you’re facing a long road, whether it’s your diagnosis or someone else’s, take it from a fella who’s walked it slow: God is in the middle of it.

Take a breath. Take His hand.
And take it one day at a time.

🕊
Still trusting.
Grace and peace,
Jimmie 

💡 Need More Encouragement for the Journey?

If today’s message about chronic illness struck a chord, you’re not alone. I’ve walked that road—and I wrote a devotional book especially for folks like us navigating the long, winding path of chronic illness.

Whether you’re facing the diagnosis yourself or walking beside someone you love, this book offers heartfelt prayers, biblical wisdom, and honest encouragement for each step of the journey.

👉 Looking for hope, peace, and direction?

You can learn more and grab your copy right here: [Prayers: Prayers for the Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers or Caregiving: Biblical Insights From a Caregiver’s Journey ]

Because you don’t have to walk through this alone—and God’s love still speaks into the hard places.

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print

It’s Okay to Cry

Posted in @jimmiekepler, Ancient Wisdom for Today, Bible, Bible Memes, Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Christian Living, Christian Writers, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, jimmiekepler.com, Poet, Poet's Life, Poets, US Military History, Writer's Life, WritingLeave a comment
It’s Okay to Cry
A Morning Thought From Jimmie Aaron Kepler
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Living with a chronic illness—or walking beside someone who is—will bring tears. That’s not weakness. That’s not failure. That’s just life being honest. And friend, it’s okay to cry.

Some days, it’s the quiet ache of fatigue that won’t let go. Other days, it’s watching someone you love fight a battle their body doesn’t seem ready to win. And then there are the days where the tears come out of nowhere—no warning, just a wave. I’ve learned not to fight them. I’ve learned to let them come.

And here’s the beautiful truth tucked away in God’s Word: He sees every tear. He remembers every sorrow. And He’s for us, not against us.

📖 Today’s Scripture

Psalm 56:8-9 (KJV)“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”

I love how personal this verse feels. King David, worn and weary from being chased and misunderstood, still believed that his tears mattered to the Almighty. He believed God kept track of each one, collecting them like precious pearls in a bottle. That’s not just poetry—that’s divine care.

💡 What It Means to Me

God doesn’t waste sorrow. He doesn’t overlook tears. And He certainly doesn’t dismiss our pain as something we should just “get over.” No, He sees. He remembers. He heals.

David’s confidence in the Lord’s attention gives me strength. He wasn’t ashamed to cry. He knew the One who counted every step he took and every tear he shed. That same God knows you. Knows me. And, praise His name, He’s for us.

🙏 A Prayer From the Heart

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of tears and the healing they bring. Remind me that crying isn’t weakness—it’s honesty. It’s release. It’s the soul’s way of saying, “This matters.”

Lord Jesus, thank You for not brushing aside our weeping. For joining us in the garden of grief. For showing us by Your own example that it’s okay to cry.

Yahweh-Rapha, God who heals, I give You the chronic illness—the weariness, the worry, the long nights, and the uncertain tomorrows. Please grant me and my loved ones the grace to feel what we feel, and to come to You with every single tear.

Let my family be a soft place to land when the sorrow wells up. Help us all be gentle with one another. Loving. Supportive. Kind.

And when I’m tempted to question, Lord, help me trust instead. Help me rest in the confidence of David, who boldly declared: “God is for me.”

Amen.

Tears may fall, but they never fall unnoticed. And sometimes, the holiest thing we can do is let them come.

Grace and Peace,
Jimmie Aaron Kepler
Poet. Storyteller. Encourager of souls.

💡 Need More Encouragement for the Journey?

If today’s message about chronic illness struck a chord, you’re not alone. I’ve walked that road—and I wrote a devotional book especially for folks like us navigating the long, winding path of chronic illness.

Whether you’re facing the diagnosis yourself or walking beside someone you love, this book offers heartfelt prayers, biblical wisdom, and honest encouragement for each step of the journey.

👉 Looking for hope, peace, and direction?

You can learn more and grab your copy right here: [Prayers: Prayers for the Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers]

Because you don’t have to walk through this alone—and God’s love still speaks into the hard places.

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print

Why Should We Wait on the Lord?

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Waiting:

Waiting on God’s timing can be hard. The Bible gives us guidance on waiting in Psalm 27:14.

Bible Verse:

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Psalm 27:14 KJV

Who wrote Psalm 27:14 and when was it written?

Psalm 27:14 was written by King David. It is part of the Book of Psalms, which is traditionally attributed to him. 

The exact date of its writing is uncertain, but it is believed to have been composed during David’s reign as King of Israel, around the 10th century BC.

What is the context of Psalm 27:14?

King David expresses his trust and confidence in God despite facing adversaries and challenges. 

Throughout the psalm, David speaks of seeking refuge in God, finding strength in His presence, and waiting patiently for His deliverance.

Verse 14 encourages patience and courage in waiting for God’s timing and intervention. 

It emphasizes the idea of trusting in God’s plan and relying on His strength to sustain us through difficult times.

What does Psalm 27:14 mean?

Psalm 27:14 encourages believers to trust in the Lord and wait patiently for His timing. It emphasizes the importance of having courage and faith while enduring trials or waiting for answers to prayers. 

The promise is that God will strengthen the hearts of those who put their trust in Him and wait for His guidance and provision.

What does “wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:” from Psalm 27:14 mean?

Psalm 27:14 is an encouragement to trust in God and have patience in His timing. It advises believers to wait patiently for the Lord’s guidance, help, and deliverance in difficult times. 

The phrase “wait on the Lord” implies a sense of dependence on God and His plans, rather than relying solely on human efforts or understanding.

The verse also encourages believers to be courageous and not lose heart while waiting for God’s intervention. It assures that God will provide strength and support to those who trust in Him.

Psalm 27:14 is about maintaining faith, courage, and patience in God, even when facing challenges or uncertainties in life.

What is the difference in biblical translations of Psalm 27:14 (KJV and ESV)? 

Psalm 27:14 KJV biblical translation says:

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Psalm 27:14 ESV biblical translation says:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

How does Psalm 27:14 give encouragement?

Psalm 27:14 provides encouragement in several ways:

  1. Encouragement to Wait on the Lord: It reminds believers to be patient and trust in God’s timing. Waiting on the Lord implies putting faith in His plan and recognizing that He knows what is best for us.
  2. Encouragement to Be Courageous: Psalm 27:14 encourages believers to have courage despite their circumstances. It acknowledges that waiting on the Lord may require endurance and steadfastness, but assures that God will provide the strength needed to persevere.
  3. Promise of Strength: Psalm 27:14 promises that as we wait on the Lord and remain courageous, He will strengthen our hearts. This strength comes from the Lord’s presence and enables believers to face challenges with confidence.

Psalm 27:14 encourages believers to trust in God’s timing, to be courageous in the face of adversity, and to rely on His strength to sustain them through difficult times.

How can I apply Psalm 27:14 to my life?

Here are some ways you can apply Psalm 27:14 to your life:

  1. Trust in God’s Timing: Psalm 27:14 encourages patience and trust in God’s timing. Sometimes, things don’t happen as quickly as we would like them to, but waiting on the Lord means trusting that He knows what is best for us and will act in His perfect timing.
  2. Be Courageous: Psalm 27:14 calls us to be of good courage while we wait. Waiting can be difficult and uncertain, but having courage means facing challenges with confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
  3. Seek Strength from God: When we wait on the Lord, He promises to strengthen our hearts. This means that as we wait patiently for His guidance and provision, He will give us the inner strength and resilience we need to endure and overcome any trials or obstacles we may face.
  4. Persist in Waiting: The repetition of “wait, I say, on the Lord” emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance in waiting on God. It’s a reminder to continually trust in Him, even when the waiting seems long or difficult.
  5. Pray for Guidance: While waiting, continue to pray and seek God’s guidance. Use this time of waiting to deepen your relationship with Him through prayer, meditation on His word, and seeking His will for your life.

Applying Psalm 27:14 to your life involves trusting in God’s timing, being courageous, seeking strength from Him, persisting in waiting, and continually seeking His guidance through prayer and meditation on His word.

A model or example prayer using Psalm 27:14:

A prayer based on tPsalm 27:14 might go something like this:

Dear Lord,

As I face challenges and uncertainties in life, help me to wait patiently on You. Grant me the courage to trust in Your timing and Your plans. 

Strengthen my heart, Lord, so that I may remain steadfast in faith, even when the journey is difficult. 

May I find peace and confidence in knowing that You are always with me, guiding and protecting me. 

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

What are five takeaways from Psalm 27:14?

Here are five takeaways from Psalm 27:14:

  1. Patience and Trust: Psalm 27:14 emphasizes the importance of waiting on the Lord, indicating the need for patience and trust in His timing and plan.
  2. Courage: It encourages believers to be of good courage, suggesting that maintaining courage is essential while waiting on God.
  3. Divine Strength: The promise of divine strength is given to those who wait on the Lord, indicating that God provides the necessary strength to endure difficulties and challenges.
  4. Repeated Emphasis: The repetition of the phrase “wait, I say, on the Lord” underscores its significance, highlighting the importance of relying on God and not acting impulsively or out of fear.
  5. Encouragement to Persevere: Psalm 27:14 serves as an encouragement for believers to persevere in their faith and to continue trusting in God’s guidance and provision, even in times of uncertainty or waiting.

 

This blog is adapted from his  book, “Wait Upon the Lord: Waiting For God’s Movement and Activity in Your Life” in Book Four from “The Bible Speaks to Life Issues” which  will be released in the Spring of 2024. You can learn more of the book series and purchase it at MORE INFO ABOUT SERIES.

It’s Okay to Cry

Posted in @jimmiekepler, Bible, Bible Memes, Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Christian Living, Christian Writers, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, jimmiekepler.com, Writer's Life, WritingLeave a comment

It’s Okay to Cry

It is okay to cry; the Heavenly Father cares about our tears. Today we look at what God’s word says about crying.

Bible Verse:

Psalm 56:8-9 (KJV), “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”

What the verse means:

Why would one keep tears in a bottle? The idea behind the keeping of “tears in a bottle” is remembrance. King David, the writer of these verses, is expressing a deep trust in God. He knows that God will remember his sorrow.

He knows God will remember his tears. He also is sure the God will not forget about him. David is confident that God is on his side. 

Praying using the verses:

  1. Heavenly Father, thank you for tears. Our tears help us identify and deal with our feelings. 
  2. Lord, thank you for letting us know crying is okay.
  3. It is comforting to know that our tears are noticed by God, that he keeps track of our tears.
  4. Pray that we will turn the sorrow concerning our chronic illness over to God.
  5. Pray that we would feel the freedom to cry out to God and let the tears flow when we need to.
  6. Pray that our family would be supportive, loving, and understanding during the times the tears flow. Pray he would just hold her during these times without questioning and comfort her.
  7. Help us to have the confidence of King David, the author of these verses, and say with him – for God is for me.

 

This blog is adapted from his  book, “Prayers for the Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers” from The Bible Speaks on Life Issues Book One. You can learn more of the book series and purchase it at MORE INFO ABOUT SERIES.

 

Tears Are Normal

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler4 Comments

3.1 My Story

“I removed the tumor. The tests also showed it has spread to her lymph nodes. I removed thirty-four of them,” said the surgical oncologist.

I stared at her. She was slowly becoming out of focus as I became teary-eyed. I knew the initial diagnosis of Stage 3 Melanoma Cancer was terrible. I knew the Melanoma spreading into the lymph nodes was very bad. I knew this would kill my wife. Even though I was trying hard not to, I started sobbing.

The surgeon then said the words I needed to hear. She said, “It’s okay to cry.” She took me in her arms, and I wept.

With her four simple words, I stopped pretending to be a macho man, let down my guard, and let the emotions of the moment take over. Today wouldn’t be the last time sobbing would overcome me. I would cry many more times over the next thirty-four months. Even now at one year since my wife’s passing, the crying returns from time to time.

Remember, it’s okay to cry.

The Bible tells of Jesus crying when Lazarus died. The Heavenly Father cares about our tears. Today’s Bible verse tells what God’s word says about crying.

3.2 Tears are Normal

When you’re a caregiver part of accepting the hope available through Jesus Christ is realizing that tears are normal. Daily living with a chronic illness or caring for a loved one with a persistent disease or terminal illness will bring tears. It’s okay to cry. Even Jesus wept (John 11:35 KJV, “Jesus wept.”).

3.3 Bible Verse

Psalm 56:8-9 (KJV), “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”

3.4 What the Verses Mean

Why would God keep tears in a bottle? The idea behind the keeping of “tears in a bottle” is a remembrance. King David, the writer of these verses, is expressing a deep trust in God. He knows that God remembers his sorrow. He knows God remembers his tears. King David also is sure the God will never forget about him. David is confident that God is on his side.

3.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father, thank you for making us where we can cry and experience the emotional release of the resulting tears. Teach me to understand and accept that my tears help me identify and help me deal with my feelings.
  • Lord Jesus, thank you for letting me know crying is okay.
  • Almighty God, it is comforting to know that you notice and keep track of my tears.
  • I turn the sorrow concerning the chronic illness of my loved one and my ability to care for them over to Yahweh-Rapha (God that heals).
  • I pray that my family and I would feel the freedom to cry out to you God and let the tears flow when the release is needed.
  • I pray that my family and friends would be supportive, loving, and understanding during the times the tears flow.
  • I pray I would hold on to God during these times without questioning and accept God’s comfort.
  • Help me to have the confidence of King David, the author of these verses, and say with him – for God is for me.

3.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Have you given yourself and your loved ones permission to cry? Remember it’s okay to cry. Share with your family members that there are times when you cry. Your sharing will permit them to shed tears. There are times when they need to cry.
  2. Remember that God will not forget about your loved one. He does not forget about you or the other caregivers. Thank God for remembering you and not forgetting you.
  3. What is the first concern you think of when it comes to caring for your loved one? Tell God what that concern is and remember, it’s okay to cry. Tears are normal.

Photo Source: Pixabay

This blog is from the book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. The book is available in paperback or eBook format at Caregiving: Biblical Insights From a Caregiver’s Journey

To get occasional updates on the writing of Jimmie Aaron Kepler please complete the “Email Sign-up” found in the far left column of the blog.

You Have Permission to Cry

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You Have Permission to Cry

3.1 My Story

“I removed the tumor. The tests also showed it has spread to your wife’s lymph nodes. I removed thirty-four lymph nodes,” said the surgical oncologist.

I stared at the doctor. She was slowly becoming out of focus as I became teary-eyed. I knew the initial diagnosis of Stage 3 Melanoma Cancer was terrible. I knew the Melanoma was spreading into the lymph nodes was very bad. I knew this would kill my wife. Even though I was trying hard not to, I started sobbing.

The surgeon then said the words I needed to hear. She said, “It’s okay to cry.”

She took me in her arms, and I wept.

With her four simple words, I stopped pretending to be a macho man, let down my guard, and let the emotions of the moment take over. She had permitted me to cry.

Today wouldn’t be the last time sobbing would overcome me. I would cry many more times over the next thirty-four months. Even now over one year since my wife’s passing, the crying returns from time to time.

Remember, you have permission to cry.

The Bible tells of Jesus crying when Lazarus died. The Heavenly Father cares about our tears. Today’s Bible verse tells what God’s word says about crying.

3.2 Tears are Normal

Part of caring for a person with a chronic illness realizes that tears are normal. Caring for a loved one will bring tears. It’s okay to cry. Even Jesus wept (John 11:35 KJV, “Jesus wept.”).

3.3 Bible Verse

Psalm 56:8-9 (KJV), “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”

3.4 What the Verses Mean

Why would God keep tears in a bottle?

The idea behind the keeping of “tears in a bottle” is a remembrance. King David, the writer of these verses, is expressing a deep trust in God. He knows that God remembers his sorrow. He knows God remembers his tears.

King David also is sure the God will never forget about him. David is confident that God is on his side.

3.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Heavenly Father, thank you for making us where we can cry and experience the emotional release of the resulting tears. Teach me to understand and accept that my tears help me identify and help me deal with my feelings.
  • Lord Jesus, thank you for letting me know crying is okay.
  • Almighty God, it is comforting to know that You notice and keep track of my tears.
  • I turn the sorrow concerning the chronic illness of my loved one and my ability to care for them over to You. You are Yahweh-Rapha (God that heals).
  • I pray that my family and I would feel the freedom to cry out to You God and let the tears flow when the release is needed.
  • I pray that my family and friends would be supportive, loving, and understanding during the times the tears flow.
  • I pray that I would hold on to God during these times without questioning. Help me to accept God’s comfort.
  • Help me to have the confidence of King David, the author of these verses, and say with him – for God is for me.

3.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. Have you given yourself and your loved ones permission to cry? Remember it’s okay to shed tears. Share with your family members that there are times when you cry. Sharing your weeping will permit them to do the same. There are times when they need to cry.
  2. Remember that God will not forget about your loved one. He does not forget about you or the other caregivers. Thank God for remembering you and not deserting you.
  3. What is the first concern you think of when it comes to caring for your loved one? Tell God what that concern is and remember, it’s okay to cry. Tears are normal.

3.7 Takeaway

God gives you permission to cry. He even collects your tears in a bottle.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.
Click HERE to find out how to become a Christian. You can trust Jesus Christ and become a Christian now.

Photo Source: Pixabay

This blog is from the forthcoming book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D.

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