When there come a point in life when nothing works out, nothing makes sense, what is there left to be done? When faced with abysmal academic results, financial instability, failure in ministry, poor spiritual health, having home a place to avoid, and no one to share these with; and quitting altogether is proscribed; then there arise a question- 'where is hope? What to have faith in?'
Then we realize these are false hope and securities. These will fade; they will fail us. These are a hindrance to having God our only hope and security. Only when God have to painfully remove them, will we see the truth of God. This seems defeatism intrinsically, but that was exactly what Job, David, Jeremiah, Paul, Peter and many other successful fore runners including not so distant George Muller, had went through.
Rich ritualistic Job lost everything to gain intimate understanding of God and a few times the riches he had; the great king David who had such intimacy with God lost his confidence after committing adultery, murder, etc, to realize true worship and offering*; the list goes on.
Inevitably, the process comes with mental and emotional distress; having nothing left, we instead of holding back, should offer our tears. Michael Card in his book 'hidden face of God' gave a good illustration of rain coming when clouds builds up, so will tears fall when pressure in us builds.
When it all comes together, we will find hope, faith and joy in God all over; hold on! Remembering that when the disciples cried 'Teacher, don't you care if we drown', He was in the boat, yes, in the boat, feeling every wave that hits the boat.
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain" Revelation 21:4a
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17
"A furious squall came up,
and the waves broke over the boat,
so that it was nearly swamped.
Jesus was in the stern" Mark 4:37,38a
The rain and the tears
I see the rain, falls down on the earth
The rain falls down,
When the clouds too weighty for the sky
So will our tears
When our hearts’ too heavy
As the rain falls down,
Bringing life renew
Will not our tears,
Bring faith and hope anew
Chorus 1:
He will take away
All our false hope
All our securities that will fade
Then He’ll be our hope, and our faith
I hear the rain, pattering to its tune
The rain falls down
Dancing in silent bliss on my roof
So will our feet,
When we learn to tear
As the rain falls down,
Flowing through the streams
Will not out hearts
Being flooded with glee
Chorus 2:
He will not promise
To wipe away our tears
When life on this earth
Is not filled with pain
He is our joy
For He cried our every tear
*From: 'Scared sorrow' by Michael Card