Encouragement

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You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
-Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

Imagine a mighty warrior-king admitting to shedding tears in the face of adversity. It could have been a cause for derision from his followers, who were equally mighty warriors. Yet, King David wasn't ashamed to admit it. Lesser men would instead seek to hide their feelings from others on the pretext of looking tough.

King David was tough, no doubt about it. So what stirred him to openly admit his shedding of tears?

1. He was intimate with God. His tears were not shed out of despair, but because he knew he could freely express his feelings to God. God is not one who would think lowly of a person, man or woman, who would break down before him in tears. God is a God of compassion; he would even draw near to those who cry out to him. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:18 (NASB)

2. His strength was in God. Indeed, David had a growing army of mighty warriors who would readily lay their lives for him. But in shedding tears, David was acknowledging that God was his source of strength. In admitting his human frailty, he was allowing the strength of God to flow through him. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. -Psalm 73:26

3. His hope was in God. Because David was intimate with God and drew strength from him, he knew he would be victorious. His hope in God was no mere wishful thinking. It was his anchor by which he could face his enemies. It didn't matter if his enemies were greater in number or superior in arms. What mattered was that he trusted in the God who would deliver him. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. -Psalm 146: 5 (NKJV)

David's tears were not tears of cowardice. On the contrary, they were tears of courage, because they were shed before the God of victory.

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