“For crying out loud!”  I grew up with this phrase and I’ve said it myself from time to time. Today, I found myself literally crying out loud.

My “good cry” started with just a few tears and I wasn’t sure what particular emotion to assign to them. I think it was, disappointment, then in crept sadness, followed by fresh grief and after that I was pleading with God. I received his comfort and it finally turned into a time of full on thankfulness.  I was still crying but they were happy tears.

I heard years ago that the chemical compounds are different in the different types of tears we cry. When I heard this, I was amazed and thought, “Of course, that’s so God to make our bodies operate that way. We cry for a variety of reasons and the tears themselves are different too. You are amazing God!”

I briefly read an article in Medical News Today- Eight Benefits of Crying: Why it’s Good to Shed a Few Tears.  *I’ll include a link at the end.

Basically, we cry and shed tears of three types:

• Basal – tears when we blink the simple tears that keep the eye moist.
• Reflex – tears that occur when we cut an onion or smoke blows in our eyes while sitting around a camp-fire.
• Emotional – tears that are in response to a wide range of emotions and have higher stress hormones – so crying could be good for you.

I know I have times when I experience “tear build-up,” it’s like pent-up energy perhaps? But nothing else helps me, until I have a good cry.

I remember years ago a friend of mine told me her daughter would lament, “Mom I know I’m in need of a good cry but I just don’t have time right now to do that. I’ll come home later and cry it out.”

I truly love that! It showed self-awareness to what was needed in her body, heart and emotions.

Could Crying be Good for You? (The Surprising Benefits of a Good Cry.)

• releases toxins
• has a soothing effect like when a baby cries before falling a sleep
• is a way to deal with emotions
• can reduce pain and lead to a sense of well-being

 

So crying is normal and has benefits too? I love that! (Of course crying too much and too often could be a sign of depression, but that’s not the purpose of this blog nor is it the type of crying I’m referencing here.)

Let me share a few verses which have been true anchors in my life.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:17-18 NIV

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.Psalm. 34:6

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

Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children… Lamentations 2:19 (I’m sure any parent can relate to this verse.)

So what was the scoop with me today? Well, I simply had a good cry. It was needed and beneficial. It brought me near to God. I know He heard me and like I said, it ended with a time of thanksgiving. I was truly comforted and later, rose and took a walk.

I’m certain God knows when we need a good cry and when we need to get some exercise. He designed us and I’m amazed by the way I respond to both tears and movement. My response was relief.  I felt so much better.

So how about you? How are you doing? Are you in need of a good cry?

Do you think you might need some exercise? If you haven’t done either of those things in a while, I highly endorse them. Cry out! God hears you and he loves you like CRAZY!

Let me leave you with one other verse – NOT related to crying but one that I hope will encourage you nonetheless. The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 NASB

*Eight benefits of crying