Why Are You Crying?

It was just a few years ago, my dad had been admitted into the hospital in the middle of the night. I was sitting in the hospital room listening to the doctors come in and out. Finally, one of them said if my dad’s health didn’t turn around soon, they would be admitting him to ICU. Me- trying to keep it together- made a deal with myself. I would stay strong until I had the opportunity to leave. I rationalized that once I got into my car, I would allow myself to break down. So, I left the hospital praying all the way from his room to the exit. When I finally got into my car, I was just about ready to sob when I felt the Holy Spirit ask me why I was going to cry. My response was because I was sad and afraid that my dad wasn’t going to be okay. The next question I felt in my spirit was, “but didn’t you just pray?” The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks! If I had prayed, then why was I sad and afraid? My response should have been praising and thanking God for healing my dad. 

Don’t get me wrong, we aren’t robots. We do have emotions and God cares when we are hurting. But in that moment, I felt like the faith response wasn’t tears but gratitude and thanksgiving. I immediately thought of Mary outside of the tomb in John 20:13-17. Mary was weeping outside of the tomb because she thought someone had taken Jesus’ body. Jesus himself was right there beside her. He asked her a simple question, “Woman, why are you crying?” He was trying to awaken her to the miracle that was in her midst. 

In the moment where I wanted to cry and give into fear, Jesus was trying to awaken me to the miracle in my midst. I drove the entire way home in praise, worship, and thanksgiving to God for a healing in my dad. As soon as I arrived home, I received a call that my dad’s situation had turned around and he wouldn’t be going to ICU! God is faithful. 

My question to you today is, are there moments when you pray, yet respond in fear as if your prayers aren’t going to be answered? Or do you override your fear and worry with praise and gratitude as though your prayers have already been answered? Mark 11:24 says, “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” For me, believing that I had received equated to overriding my tears. The next time you are praying, ask yourself, “how would I be feeling if this prayer were already answered?” Believe that you have received!