“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
I went to a counseling session feeling burdened and heavy-laden. The counselor invited me to unload everything. “Lay it on me,” she said.
I was distressed and depressed but not used to being open with people. I feel they cannot handle it when I am not okay nor can they help me. Gratefully, God made people with the gift of compassion and they are in our life to be supportive. However, I am not used to that kind of open response, inviting me to unpack all my baggage and not hold back. It was a breath of fresh air and a welcome response to know that was a safe place to be real and honest about what was on my heart.
This made me think about how God invites us to lay it all on Him—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and not hold back. He can handle it—all of it.
Remember, God made our emotions. He isn’t afraid of any of them nor can we hide from Him. He knows all and wants us to be real with Him. He is aware when we are hurting and He wants to help. We have to first admit that we are in pain and seek Him for solutions.
A few weeks ago, I was awake past midnight and upset about what was weighing on me. I tried to focus and read my Bible, and then the song “Just Cry” by Mandisa played in my mind. I looked it up and listened as it really ministered to me.
The lyrics tell us that we don’t have to act strong when we are feeling weak nor do we need to present ourselves as brave when we are not. The words that stood out to me most were when Mandisa encourages us to cry if we need it. She compared tears to prayers. What a beautiful concept!
Did you know that the Bible says that God collects all of our tears in a bottle? It is a testament to God’s heart of compassion for humankind. He understands our pain and knows everything about us. We can trust Him to keep our confidence and to heal us, whether on Earth or when we are in Heaven.
The Bible says God finishes the work He starts, and I believe that includes healing our hearts.
The next time you are in a dark and sad place, invite God in and let Him minister to you. If you need to call a counselor, there are mental health professionals and resources available for free.
Whatever you do in distressing times, don’t give up, and don’t push God away. He wants to help you. Prayer is the first line of defense and the greatest resource. If you are too low to pray, ask Jesus Christ to pray for you. And if you cannot even muster a prayer to Jesus then let the Holy Spirit do the talking. The Bible says in (Romans 8:26-27 NLV) that the Holy Spirit “helps us where we are weak. We do not know how to pray or what we should pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays to God for us with sounds that cannot be put into words. God knows the hearts of men. He knows what the Holy Spirit is thinking. The Holy Spirit prays for those who belong to Christ the way God wants Him to pray.”
It has been said that if it’s on your mind, then it’s on God’s heart. Talk to Him about everything. Lay it on Him. He can handle it.
Let’s Pray: Dear God, Thank You for always being here for us. Thank You that You care about every detail of our lives—big and small. Help us to remember that what affects us concerns You. Help us seek You for the help and provision we need because You have promised to meet our every need. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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