Myth

There are things said by well meaning people that are simply not true.  For example, “God is not moved by your tears, He’s only moved by faith.”  I’ve heard this on different occasions, usually by a preacher. I understand what they are trying to say but you cannot put God in a box. It also paints God as uncaring and misrepresents Him completely. The Bible is our number one resource for knowing who God is, and the Bible gives several examples of Him being moved to action by the tears of people.

Example 1
In Luke 7 Jesus comes upon a funeral of the only son of a widow. When Jesus saw her, He was moved with compassion and told her not to weep. He then proceeded to raise her son to life. No mention of anyone demonstrating faith.

Example 2
Another death, this time of a little girl. The girl’s father had come to Jesus so He would heal her. But Jesus got delayed by a woman with an issue of blood who touched His garment and was healed. This time it was because of her faith. But the news came that the little girl had died and that Jesus’ services would no longer be needed. But Jesus went and found a crowd of people weeping and mourning. He told them to stop crying , that she was only asleep. They laughed at Him but Jesus simply took her hand and told her to get up. And she did.
Again, no faith here because to them, death was the end.

Example 3
Lazarus was sick and they sent for Jesus. Jesus said the sickness would not end in death but it was for the glory of God. He waited until Lazarus died and then left. When they arrived, Jesus was greeted with accusations of “if you had been here.” If you had come like we asked then he wouldn’t have died. But now it’s too late. The Bible says when Jesus saw Mary weeping and those with her weeping, “He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.”
To the people there it was the end, but not to Jesus. You know the story, Jesus said remove the stone, Martha said he stinks, Jesus says Lazarus come forth and he did. And like Jesus had said, this sickness did not end in death.

I’m not downplaying the role of faith by any means because without faith it is impossible to please God.
My point is to dismantle a false premise about God that misrepresents Him. I’ve included the scripture references below to validate my paraphrasing of the examples. Have a blessed day and know that God sees your tears and one day, God Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more death, or mourning

Example 1
Luke 7:12‭-‬15 NKJV
And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

Example 2
Luk 8:52-56 NET 52 Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” 53 And they began making fun of him, because they knew that she was dead. 54 But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, “Child, get up.” 55 Her spirit returned, and she got up immediately. Then he told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Example 3
Joh 11:33 NET When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people who had come with her weeping, he was intensely moved in spirit and greatly distressed.

Bonus verses lol
“Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord , the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord .
II Kings 20:5 NKJV

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

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:3‭-‬4 NIV