“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)

The café was filled with the uncontrollable cries of a toddler who, moments earlier, had been enjoying lunch with his parents. Now his dad swiftly scooped him up and retreated to the lobby. The child’s screams turned into gentle sobs as his father patiently soothed him.

Little did I know that just a few short days later, I would be reminded of this touching scene as I received unwelcome news that transformed my pleasant day into one of uncertainty and questions.

Over the previous six months, I had invested most of my time and energy into a work project that would change the trajectory of my career. I knew it was exactly the next step God wanted me to take. After all, it was a perfectly tailored answer to a year’s worth of prayer. But when I got the news, I stared at my phone in disbelief as my composure quickly began to crumble. The partnership had ended before it had even begun. As I reread the text message, my tears began to pour.

Driving home, struggling to see through my still-falling tears, I cried out to God, Father, I know Your ways are higher and Your plans are good. I’m not doubting Your decision — I just need You to hold me while I cry.

I knew that no matter how I was feeling, His promise from Isaiah 46:4 was true:

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Just like the crying child, sometimes we don’t need a solution; we just need to be carried by a Father who is tender and compassionate to His children (Psalm 103:13). Every once in a while, we just need to cry it out. Our heavenly Father is always there, watching and waiting for the opportunity to hold His children. His love is freely given and knows no bounds when it comes to those who seek Him for sanctuary.

Jesus tells us in Matthew that “anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:4, NLT). When I’m caught up in being a grown-up, with my old age and gray hair, I must remember I’m also a child needing a heavenly Father who will carry me when I’m hurting. Through His love, I will be calmed as He rejoices over me with great gladness (Zephaniah 3:17).

Friends, we will all face troubles, heartache, disappointment and grief. When our tears begin to flow, God is waiting with open arms to carry us, His children, and to catch our tears in His mighty hand, transforming them into abundant blessings.

Father, thank You for faithfully holding me when my tears come. Please continue to wipe my eyes so I can see the hardships entering my life as opportunities for closeness with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Today’s devotion writer, Cindy Boyd, is a member of COMPEL Training. Receive writing tips on your social media feeds when you follow COMPEL Training on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Deuteronomy 1:30-31, “The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place” (NKJV).

Psalm 56:8, “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?” (NKJV).

Do you remember a time when you just needed to be held by the Father? How can you be the arms of Christ and comfort others going through a tearful season? Share with us in the comments.

© 2024 by Cindy Boyd. All rights reserved.