“Blessed are those who weep, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4
Tears are strange things. They slip down our cheeks unbidden, showing up at moments of deep sorrow, overwhelming joy, and even unexpected laughter. We cry when we experience loss, but also when we encounter beauty so profound that words fail us.
Why did Jesus say that those who weep are blessed? Shouldn’t blessing mean happiness, success, or comfort instead of sorrow? And yet, throughout Scripture, we see again and again that tears are not a sign of weakness but a sacred doorway to healing, transformation, and divine encounter.
The Gift of Tears
We live in a world that often tells us to hold it together, to be strong, to suppress our emotions in the name of composure. But the Bible presents a different reality—one where weeping is not only allowed but is often the path to blessing.
The shortest verse in the Bible is also one of the most powerful:
“Jesus wept.” – John 11:35
Jesus, the Son of God, the embodiment of divine love, stood at the tomb of His friend Lazarus and wept. He did not brush aside grief with a theological explanation. He did not tell Mary and Martha to “just have faith.” He entered into the sorrow, fully present in its reality.
When we weep, we are in good company. Jesus wept. The prophets wept. The psalmists poured out their laments before God. Even the Holy Spirit is described as groaning with us when we do not have words (Romans 8:26).
Tears are not a failure of faith. They are an expression of hope.
Why Do We Cry?
Science tells us that humans are the only creatures who cry emotional tears. While animals shed tears for biological reasons (to clear debris from their eyes), only humans cry in response to emotions—grief, awe, relief, or even profound love.
Richard Rohr describes tears as a form of prayer, an expression of our deepest, truest selves. When we cry, we are not just feeling something—we are participating in something sacred.
Tears allow us to:
1. Release what we cannot control – Weeping is an act of surrender, acknowledging our limits and entrusting our pain to God.
2. Move from anger to mercy – Tears soften our hearts, transforming outrage into compassion.
3. Enter into deeper connection – Tears bridge the gap between people, creating solidarity in suffering.
4. Awaken to something greater – Whether in grief, awe, or laughter, tears often signal a shift in our awareness—an encounter with divine mystery.
The Lament That Heals
Many of us were taught that faith should be about certainty, joy, and victory—but Scripture is filled with lament. The psalmists cry out, “How long, O Lord?” (Psalm 13:1). The book of Lamentations is one long prayer of grief.
Even Jesus, on the cross, quotes a psalm of lament:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46, Psalm 22:1
God does not ask us to hide our grief. Instead, He meets us in it. He does not rush us through our sorrow or tell us to “move on” quickly. Instead, He gives us space to bring our full selves—our weeping, our wounds, our longing—into His presence.
And in that place, something incredible happens: tears become the pathway to healing.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” – Psalm 30:5
The Mystery of Shared Tears
One of the most beautiful things about tears is that they connect us. When we see someone weeping, we instinctively draw near. Something deep within us recognizes their pain as our own.
Tears break down walls. They bypass pretense and cut through the noise of small talk. They allow us to say without words: I see you. You are not alone.
In his book The Tears of Things, Richard Rohr reflects on the gift of weeping for others. He notes that when we weep, we are participating in something bigger than ourselves. Jesus wept not just for Lazarus, but for all of humanity’s grief.
Likewise, when we cry for a friend, a stranger, or even the suffering of the world, we are stepping into the heart of God—a God who weeps with us.
Weeping as an Act of Hope
It may seem paradoxical, but weeping is not just about sorrow—it is also about hope.
Tears mean we are still open.
Tears mean we still care.
Tears mean we are still longing for a better world.
And ultimately, we weep because we believe in resurrection.
When Jesus said, “Blessed are those who weep, for they will be comforted,” He wasn’t just offering sympathy. He was pointing to a reality beyond our tears. There will come a day when God will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4), when mourning will be turned to dancing, when sorrow will be swallowed up in joy.
Until then, our tears are holy. They are sacraments of longing, reminders that love is real, grief is sacred, and hope is on the horizon.
So today, if you find yourself weeping, do not be ashamed. You are seen. You are loved. And you are blessed.
A Prayer for the Weeping
God who weeps,
You see the tears I try to hide.
You hear the prayers I cannot speak.
Hold me in this sorrow.
Let my weeping bring me closer to Your heart,
Where I find comfort, connection, and hope.
Amen.