Sometimes a Woman's Just Gotta Cry

photo credit

Sometimes a woman’s just gotta to cry.

For my male readers, sorry, this is a distinctively female post, but if you hang around, you might glean a few tidbits of insight into the female soul that could prove useful in the future.

Unlike many of my soul sisters, I don’t cry often. I’m left-brain dominant, and tend to favor logic rather than emotion. I can usually talk myself out of the impulse to cry. Listen to a recent conversation I had with myself when a wave of unexplained sadness washed over me:

Wow, I feel like crying.

(Pause for self-analysis.) If I think long enough, I’m sure I can find something to cry about, but there’s nothing that would truly justify it. Must be hormones.

 

If the sadness persists, the conversation continues:

I don’t suppose it would hurt to cry. I’d probably feel better, but my nose would get all stuffed up, and then I’d have a sinus headache for the rest of the evening. And my eyelids always look puffy after I cry, so I’ll look really bad at work tomorrow.

Sometimes that approach works. Other times the tear tide rises even farther in favor of a good old-fashioned blubber fest, and I scramble to out-reason my brimming eyelids:

You know, some people really have something to cry about. Think about poor Sandy who’s battling cancer, and Molly who doesn’t know where her daughter is right now. And what about the Potters, who are having a very tough year since Jack got laid off? You really don’t have anything to cry about. In fact, this whole line of thinking just demonstrates how ungrateful you are.

And if the feelings still persist, I break out the big guns:

God tells us to rejoice in everything, you know, and you are definitely not rejoicing right now. In fact, you’re seriously considering diving right into a great big pity party and wailing your little heart out, aren’t you?

And sometimes I do just that, dragging my logical little left-brain behind me.

You know what? I usually feel much better for having done it, too.

So how does God feel about crying women and tender hearts?

I think he’s quite comfortable with us. After all, he created us this way. And the same tender heart that cries for “no reason,” is soft enough to have sympathy for the helpless, empathy for the hurting, and compassion on the elderly and unborn.

It was the heart of the grateful that wept over the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:44).

It was the heart of a mother that cried out in the desert, fearing for her son (Genesis 21).

It was the heart of a friend who mourned death’s untimely blow (Acts 9:39).

And it was the heart of a faithful follower that wept brokenheartedly at the tomb early that morning (John 20:13).

All women. All crying. All affirmed by our Lord.

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy,” (Psalm 126:5)

"The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces,” (Isaiah 25:8) 

"'Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 31:16).

Sometimes a woman’s just gotta cry. God made us this way. 

And you know what brings me a lot of comfort in the middle of a good old-fashioned meltdown? 

The knowledge that Jesus cried, too.

“During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission” (Hebrews 5:7).

Are you right-brained or left-brained when it comes to emotions? What helps you most when you're sad? Leave a comment below and join in the conversation. If you're reading by email, click here to comment.

If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe? I'll send you twice-weekly 5-minute devotions to help nourish your soul. 
Because women need to connect with God in the craziness of life. 

Enter your email address and VALIDATE the Feedburner email sent to your inbox.



Delivered by FeedBurner

Hungry for God is on Facebook! Will you take a moment and LIKE my page? CLICK HERE to help HFG share 5-minute devotions.