If you cry at the drop of a tissue, you may be surprised to discover God has gifted you with a ministry of tears. Author, speaker and encourager Liz Curtis Higgs offers good news for those who weep.
If you cry at the drop of a tissue, you may be surprised to discover God has gifted you with a ministry of tears. Author, speaker and encourager Liz Curtis Higgs offers good news for those who weep.
let just say this is one of my gifts
i have been told i should apply for a job at the wailing wall
or a soap opera
i rate movies by hakies used…
tell me more plz
Not lots more to share on this, dear Aimee. Some of us are simply made to leak! ;>) Here are the verses I included in the pod cast:
David confessed, “I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.” (Psalms 6:6).
The apostle Paul “served the Lord with great humility and with tears” (Acts 20:19).
The Bible tells us to ‘mourn with those who mourn’ (Romans 12:15), and to ‘comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.’ (2 Corinthians 1:4).
‘He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy.’ (Psalms 126:6).
Hope my message encouraged you, sis!
Once again, sweet Liz, you make me feel better. I cry with happiness as well as sadness. I think God allows us to shed tears as a release. Just like a pop off valve in the oil field, it relieves pressure.
When crying with a friend…ok, even a stranger, it just shows that we’re listening and caring. Empathy and sympathy. It’s the same when we laugh with them. Putting on their burdens or joys. I don’t try to hide those tears or keep them from flowing. God gave them to me and I allow them to wash over me and ease a broken heart or enjoy the joy.
Thank you for your wisdom and your ministry. I am such a fan and am thankful to call you my sister in Christ.
Love, Pam
I’m so encouraged by this message. I was Baptized on March 17th at the age of 59 and I couldn’t stop crying….the tears just flowed. And I am joyous with the rebirth in my soul and my constant improving to be pleasing to God. These verses blessed me greatly as I feel like I’m right where I should be in my humility. Thank You for your uplifting of all women and men….Bless You
Wow. I thought somehow that I was the only one who leaked lavishly. In fact, I have begun to tell people that I’m afraid of the consequences of all these tears. If God stores all of them in a bottle, the volume I have shed in the last year will potentially keep someone out of heaven – no room at the inn with Melody’s tear vats full up! Thank you for the reminder that we can give everything to our God, even our tears, and that He can use salty waterworks for His purposes, too…
Isn’t it wonderful to know our tears count to God? No worries: heaven has room for all those bottles…and for us too! Sure appreciate your words of encouragement, Melody.
I, too, leak lavishly. I’m thinking I’m going to have a house on the lake of tears in heaven. Sounds like we might be neighbors! Haha!
Oh, me too. With a dock, please! God bless you, Linda, for listening and commenting.
No kidding? I have always been very emotional. Lots of tears, for me, for you, for your loved one as the Lord moves with compassion. I am glad you mentioned this because I get condemnation for being overly emotional. I have finally accepted that that is just the way I am and others who don’t understand it are not my judges and that doesn’t mean I am defective. Thanks for letting us know. Is there something in the Bible that talks about this specifically, please?
You won’t find the phrase “ministry of tears” in Scripture, Patti. That’s just a Lizzie thing. ;>) But Romans 12:15 (NASB) does tell us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” That’s why I believe with all my heart that one way we minister to one another is to cry with someone who is crying. It says without a word, “I am with you. I understand. I care. You are not alone.” Compassion is SUCH an important aspect of ministry. Clearly he has blessed you with that gift!
Yes ! My tears came after I watch the 700 club and they had a certian topic about Autism. I think I cry the whole show and pray for the tears to stop. I then was told by a friend that it is the spirt moving through me. Can the spirt move thought tears just by hearing stories of these kids? What could I do for them when my Kids have Autism also?
I have cried, for years. But depression turns you inward, and God can not comfort you if you are such. But I know his is always there and when I could not reach his spirit. He held me with his hands.
Going thru depression is so hard !Tears come os often. Reading your answers helps me also.And I thank you.
Liz, I was at the Gull Lake Womens Conf. yesterday [Friday] and was so moved by your talks. I went out today to find at least one of your books and found many. What would you suggest I start with? Thank you for your inspiration.
Wow! You and I must be twins or something! Everyone knows me as the crier! My husband jokes that I just have a lot of water inside my head… Thank you for putting words to this!
Wow, great to hear I’m not the only crier(sp?). I’d rather laugh though!
I always kid that I cry at the Hallmark commercials, but it more than that and it is nice to know that I am not alone. I cry for those that are sad and cry because of the sorrow they have and that they need to know they are not alone. I cry at happy occasion’s such as wedding as I share in the joy of love and new own babies or maybe good new. I cry whether I am there or is is on the TV. I cry in church when the message moves metro tears because of God’s grace. It is feels good to cry tears of joy or sorrow and to share those tears with others.
What a blessing to know I’m not the only ‘greeter’ as we say in scotland.I was so embarrassed when this first started, but now just take a box of tissues with me when I move to a new church etc.A friend of mine recently was told by her pastor,when she was moved to tears by the message….is that you greetin again……..she was very hurt and has since left that church, we are now prayer partners and regularly weep for the ones we pray for ,draining but cleansing!!!!!! twice now I have had times of holy laughter pour over me so maybe they go together and keep me balanced???thanks for continuing to be an encourager to your sisters worldwidexxxx
Hi Liz,
Thank you for putting such a positive spin on what it’s like to be a sensitive person. I’ve always been sensitive – not emotional – but sensitive. I was taught to believe it is an undesirable a sign of weakness and was often called “over sensitive” by family. So, I learned to toughen that part of me up. But when I am tenderized by the pain and suffering of others (man and beast alike) I become a wall of tears on their behalf. Over the years, I have seen how God has used that part of me to minister through acts of compassion for others. I still have to fight against the old recorded voices telling me what a ridiculous thing it is to weep so readily at the pain and suffering of others. But I am grateful for how God has grown me up in this. It’s why I went on to become a Chaplain and a mentor for women and it is who God has created me to be – tough as nails with a heart of flesh. Thank you for your tenderness! <3
I am loving the podcasts. Learning so much from the words you speak. God Bless you, Liz. Thanks for the words of encouragement you give others.