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