I was recently in the alter praying with a friend who is going through emotional time in his life. Having been through the same thing I could understand and sympathize with him. After we prayed as we got up I noticed his tears on the altar. I didn't think anything about it at the time, I just noticed them. I was talking with someone the other day and they asked if I thought God really heard their prayers. That image of those tears came flooding back into my mind. I answered Yes that God hears us cry out and the Bible is clear about this point. Twice we read about David crying out to God. "In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God. He HEARD my voice from His Temple, and my cry ENTERED His ears." 2 Samuel 22:7 and Psalms 18:6. Here it s clear that God does hear our cries. He does see our tears left there on the altar. How cool is that? God hears my cries. Sees my tears and pain and cares about me.
In today's time there are so many people crying out about all types of topics. Divorce, disease, death, poverty and so many problems. So much hurt, so many tears. There seems to be more and more hurt and heartache today than ever before but God hears our cries, sees our tears and loves us enough that he sent His only son to die for us.
I thought about my friend and his tears. I've seen what God is doing in his life and through his pain. The trust to cry out to God and to know he hears and responds is, to me, one of the most beautiful things about a relationship with God. A relationship is about being there for the other in the times of need. What's cool is how God is ALWAYS there for us. There are time's in my life where I just went it alone, sought no help or counsel from God and those have been disastrous. Had I sought Gods wisdom by relying on our relationship then things would have turned out different. There's the point. A relationship with God develops trust that He has your best interest in His plans, "HIS plans" not our own plans. In a time when so many are afraid to approach the altar of God, because of what they may find there, the need to develop that relationship is at an all time high in this world. He cares, He loves, He hears, He's there at all times. Those tears left on the altar matter to Him. They are a sign that you trust him enough to lay your burden at His feet and that he will respond.
