Tears are Worship, Too

During Sunday's church service, I found myself kneeling at the altar with tears streaming down my face. As I poured my heart out to God about some difficult situations in my life, I began to feel guilty for begging God for help instead of worshipping Him. I started to scold myself for crying out to God instead of singing His praises, when I heard that sweet, still, small voice say, "Tears are worship, too." 

As I've thought about those words, I was reminded of the story Jesus told in Luke 7:37-38. The Passion Translation tells it this way, "In the neighborhood there was an immoral woman of the streets, known to all to be a prostitute. When she heard that Jesus was at Simeon’s house, she took an exquisite flask made from alabaster, filled it with the most expensive perfume, went right into the home of the Jewish religious leader, and in front of all the guests, she knelt at the feet of Jesus. Broken and weeping, she covered his feet with the tears that fell from her face. She kept crying and drying his feet with her long hair. Over and over, she kissed Jesus’ feet. Then, as an act of worship, she opened her flask and anointed his feet with her costly perfume."

The immoral woman came to Jesus because she knew He was the only One who could heal her broken heart. She sat at His feet, in awe of who He was, and allowed her tears to fall upon His feet. She was not singing a song of worship to Him, but there's no doubt about it, she was worshipping the One she believed cared for her and could change her life. 

Maybe she had heard of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, and with just one touch of Jesus' robe, she had been healed (Luke 8:43-48 NIV) or perhaps she had heard Jesus say, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV). She didn't care what anyone else thought, she brought her tears, her needs, and something of great value to her Lord. With all of her focus on Jesus, she poured these things out at His feet.

There are times in our lives when our worship looks like joyous singing and grateful smiles. There are other times when it looks more like woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears. Bringing our needs, our broken hearts, our concern for others, and all of our emotions to our Lord reveals a heart of humility and reverence. We are trusting Him as the Lover of our Souls, the Way-Maker, the Problem-Solver, the Faithful Provider, the Peace-Bringer, the Powerful Healer, and the Joy-giver. We are acknowledging Him as the only One who can do anything about our situation while also replacing our anxiety and hopelessness with His love and comfort.

Sometimes our tears come from a place of joy, gratitude, and abundance. Other times they come from a place of pain and helplessness. Either way, tears, when brought to the feet of Jesus, are worship, too.