“I Have Heard Your Prayers, I Have Seen Your Tears” – 2 Kings 20:5

Did you know tears caused by stress differ from those caused by irritation or pain?

They contain higher levels of stress hormones. Scientists believe that when we cry, tears release hormones that balance stress levels.

Our bodies are intricately designed by an amazing Creator. He knew we would need some kind of outlet to balance our stressed out lives. Who knew one of the mechanisms  would be the stuff leaking out of our eyes and streaming hotly down our cheeks?

Let me tell you about a Biblical King who cried many tears.

Hezekiah was one of the kings of Judah who “did right in the sight of the LORD”. He encountered a mortal illness and a mortal enemy in the same year.  And yes, he cried many tears. The prophet Isaiah delivered the bad news to Hezekiah and he immediately turned to the LORD God our Healer in prayer.

Not only did he pray, he wept bitterly. Look at his prayer:

² Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, ³ “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 2 Kings 20:2-3

Notice that Hezekiah’s prayer asked for remembrance, not necessarily healing. He wanted God to remember his faithfulness in the event that he lived or died (Matt. Henry Commentary).

Before Isaiah even got out of the courtyard of the temple God sent a message through him for Hezekiah. I love verse 5:

“Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you…”.

Verse 6 goes on to tell us that God added 15 years to Hezekiah’s life. Now that promise was specifically for Hezekiah and we can’t always expect the same result. But here is what we can expect – prayer makes a difference!

“I have heard your prayers and have seen your tears” just touches my heart. So many times when we are in the midst of the crisis, we wonder if God is anywhere around us. But He is – our tears and our prayers touch His heart. Who can know what our prayers have accomplished here on earth? As we daily pray for people in our Sunday School classes, our families, or even ourselves, we may have unknowingly extended someone’s life.

Tears are precious to God, so precious that He is storing them up. Can you imagine the God of this universe gently storing up your tears? That is how much He loves and cares for you. So go ahead and have good cry. It is good for your soul.

You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?  Psalm 56:8