Tears in God’s Bottle

It is not always easy to believe that God cares about us, especially, on an individual level. I’m one of over 6 billion on this planet. It is natural to think as the psalmist, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4, NIV).

I know. I know. Jesus taught that the very hairs of our heads are all numbered (Luke 12:7), and that does tell me something. But that often doesn’t change the need for more validation. We still tend to feel lost in the crowd. Fortunately, there is a text that reveals the same principle but in a way that better reaches our heartstrings.

It’s an old text. At one time it was sung. And it can still be sung, in more ways than one.

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8, ESV). This has become one of my favorite texts of Scripture. It sends a strong message that God is attuned to the pain in our lives. God is taking note of my moments of despair. God is collecting my tears in a bottle. These things are in his book!

God is amassing a ton of tears in a devastated Haiti. He is responding to cries with aid and assistance. God is in note-taking mode. He is doing this for you, me, and many others!

Thank you God for your concern for each one of us. When tragedy strikes, thank you for showing us your love and consolation. Thank you for giving us hope in the middle of life’s storms. Thank you for riding those storms out with us.