Remember To Cry
“Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.” - 2 Timothy 2:4 csb
There are those who call themselves empaths. The word is more of a slang term derived from empathy. On social media, it’s often used to describe someone who is highly empathetic toward others. For example, when a young girl sees an old man eating dinner alone, she begins to cry and posts online, “It’s so hard being an empath.” In her mind, she creates a whole scene: that this elderly man lost the love of his life and now has to eat all alone the rest of his life! A bit dramatic, but you get the point.
Paul, upon remembering his young son in the faith, Timothy, was moved and deeply desired to see him. Timothy was going through difficulties in his ministry and his walk with the Lord. Instead of being angry with him or rebuking him, Paul was empathetic toward him. The culture we live in often sees empathy and sensitivity as weakness. The false attitude of the worldly “alpha male” despises weakness, yet we find the mighty Apostle Paul moved when he remembered Timothy crying during his trials.
In the gospel account of John 11:35, Jesus came to Bethany where His dear friend Lazarus had died. When Jesus saw Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, weeping, He was moved with compassion, and it says, “Jesus wept.” It’s the shortest verse in all the Bible! Paul was moved. Jesus was moved to tears. Both had compassion toward those who suffered.
In his letter to the Roman church, Paul’s instruction is clear: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep”Romans 12:15. Our society pressures us to be cold, hard, and unsympathetic to others. But as believers, as Christians, we need to remember that it’s okay to cry. Weep with those who hurt, Christ did. Timothy cried, and he was a pastor! Showing empathy and sensitivity toward the hurting is not weakness; on the contrary, it is a command. God designed and gave us emotions, they aren’t meant to rule us, but they are meant to be used.
We don’t need to be so cold, so hard toward others. I know the world teaches we should be, but we are not of the world, we are in Christ! Perhaps what they are dealing with isn’t a big deal to you, but for them, it is. If Jesus wept, so can you. If Paul was moved by Timothy’s tears, so should you. I dare say this: if Timothy cried, you can too! Let’s not be so hard. Let’s remember to its ok to cry.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” Colossians 3:12, csb
Agape, Frank
An Imposter?
“…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” — and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason , so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1: 15b-16 csb
Have you ever felt like an imposter while working in a position of authority? Or maybe you’ve felt unqualified in the field you’re in? Some felt this way about the Apostle Paul and I dare say, at times, Paul may have felt it too. His life before Christ certainly weighed on him. We can look back at who we were and feel like who we are now is just a phony version of ourselves. Feeling like an imposter is normal; most Christians have experienced it at one point or another.
But here’s the truth: it’s a trap to get you looking inward instead of upward. Your new life in Christ serves more than one purpose, but two stand out: saving you from hell and bringing Christ glory! God demonstrates who He is by saving the most vile of creatures, fallen man. Paul declared to Timothy (who, I speculate, may have wrestled with the same “imposter syndrome” I’ve felt many times), “I am the worst!” he said. It’s almost funny, not because Paul was joking, but because it was true. In essence, Paul says, “You think you’re bad Tim, I’ve got you beat!” Yes, Paul was formerly a bad guy, but then he says, “But I have received mercy.” Mercy is a gift. And when you receive a gift, it’s yours whether you feel worthy of it or not.
Some times when we fall into old habits and sin we can begin to question “am I really saved?” Or we can feel like we were never genuinely changed, and are just an imposter! This causes a sense of hypocrisy, insecurity, and doubt. That’s exactly what condemnation is supposed to do, it is not from the Holy Spirit but from the flesh, and the devil. The truth is, friend, we will all struggle with sin, and at times blow it bad. However, whether or not you feel like a “real Christian,” in Christ you are a forgiven sinner who has also received mercy, and nothing can ever change that, not even feelings of being an imposter. Paul said this wonderful truth, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 csb. God has done this to save you and to glorify Himself through you! Friend, keep at it, walk in it, own it! Forget those who question it, including your own thought life and the devil.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 csb
Agape, Frank