Crying during prayer can be a deeply emotional and spiritual experience. But what does the Bible say about this expression of faith? The scriptures offer examples of tearful prayers and the comfort they can bring. Let’s explore how the Bible views crying in prayer and the significance it holds in our spiritual lives.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About politics
What Does The Bible Say About crying when praying
Psalm 34:17-18
“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.”
This verse reminds us that when we cry out to the Lord in prayer, He not only hears us but also delivers us from our troubles. It assures us that God is near to the brokenhearted and offers comfort and salvation to those who are feeling crushed in spirit.
Psalm 56:8
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”
This verse paints a beautiful picture of God’s attentiveness to our tears. It illustrates His deep care and concern for our sorrows, assuring us that none of our tears go unnoticed. It is a reminder that God sees our pain and is intimately aware of our struggles.
Psalm 6:8-9
“Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.”
In moments of weeping and crying out to the Lord, we can have confidence that He hears us. This verse reassures us that the Lord not only hears our prayers but also accepts them. It encourages us to turn away from evil and trust in His mercy.
Lamentations 2:18
“Cry aloud before the Lord, O walls of Zion! Let your tears flow like a river day and night. Give yourselves no relief; give your eyes no rest.”
This verse calls for a heartfelt cry to the Lord, encouraging us to express our emotions openly and honestly. It emphasizes the importance of pouring out our tears and not holding back in seeking His presence. It serves as a reminder that we can bring all our pain and anguish before God.
Hebrews 5:7
“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.”
This verse highlights Jesus’ own experience of crying out in prayer. It reveals His deep sincerity and fervency in seeking God’s help. It shows that even Jesus, in His humanity, relied on prayer and tears to connect with the Father and receive His saving grace.
Joel 2:12-13
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
This verse encourages us to come before the Lord with a sincere and repentant heart. It emphasizes the importance of genuine repentance and mourning over our sins. It reminds us that God is gracious, compassionate, and full of love, and He is always ready to forgive and restore us.
Psalm 62:8
“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
This verse urges us to place our trust in God and pour out our hearts before Him. It reminds us that God is our safe haven, our refuge, where we can find comfort and security. It encourages us to open up to Him in prayer, knowing that He cares for us deeply.
2 Corinthians 7:10
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
This verse distinguishes between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. It emphasizes that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance and ultimately salvation. It reminds us that crying out in prayer with a humble and contrite heart is a catalyst for change and transformation in our lives.
Psalm 142:1-2
“I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him, I tell my trouble.”
This verse reflects the psalmist’s vulnerability and honesty before God. It encourages us to approach the Lord with our cries for mercy, pouring out our complaints and troubles before Him. It reminds us that we have a loving Father who desires to listen and provide comfort.
Psalm 55:17
“Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.”
This verse demonstrates the psalmist’s consistency in crying out to the Lord throughout the day. It assures us that God hears our cries regardless of the time. It encourages us to maintain a habit of continual prayer, knowing that He is attentive to our needs.
Matthew 26:75
“Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
This verse depicts Peter’s deep sorrow and remorse after denying Jesus three times. It reminds us that our tears can be an expression of regret and repentance. It shows that even in our moments of weakness, God’s grace and forgiveness are available to us.
James 4:9-10
“Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
This verse calls for a genuine expression of grief and humility before the Lord. It challenges us to prioritize eternal matters over temporal pleasures and to seek God’s mercy and restoration. It assures us that as we humble ourselves, the Lord will lift us up.
Psalm 126:5-6
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”
This verse offers hope and encouragement to those who are sowing their tears in difficult seasons. It promises that God will turn those tears into songs of joy and bring forth a bountiful harvest. It reminds us that our weeping can lead to a season of rejoicing.
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
This verse is part of the Beatitudes spoken by Jesus. It declares that those who mourn are blessed because they will experience God’s comfort. It teaches us that in our times of mourning and crying out to the Lord, He is present and ready to bring solace to our hearts.
Psalm 116:8
“For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,”
This verse expresses gratitude to the Lord for His deliverance and protection. It acknowledges that God has not only saved us from physical peril and kept our feet from stumbling, but also wiped away our tears. It reminds us of His faithfulness and provision in times of trouble.
2 Kings 20:5
“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now, you will go up to the temple of the Lord.’
This verse records God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer and tears. It assures us that God hears our prayers and sees our tears, and He is willing to bring healing and restoration. It reminds us of His power to intervene in our lives and bring about miraculous breakthroughs.
Psalm 13:1-2
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?”
This verse expresses the psalmist’s intense longing for God’s presence and deliverance. It reveals his struggles and the depth of his sorrow. It reminds us that we can cry out to God with our questions, doubts, and frustrations, knowing that He is not distant but near.
Psalm 42:3
“My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?'”
This verse portrays the psalmist’s anguish and the mocking of others regarding his faith in God. It shows the emotional toll he experiences, as tears become his sustenance. It encourages us to hold onto our trust in God even in the midst of adversity or when others question our faith.
Psalm 30:5
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
This verse reassures us of God’s unfailing love and the temporary nature of our sorrows. It reminds us that, though we may weep and experience difficulties, God’s favor and joy will eventually prevail. It instills hope that morning will come after the night of weeping.
Psalm 116:1-2
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”
This verse expresses the psalmist’s deep love for the Lord and gratitude for His attentive ear. It testifies to God’s faithfulness in hearing and responding to our cries for mercy. It inspires us to have a lifelong commitment to prayer, knowing that God is always ready to listen.
Psalm 42:7
“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”
This verse portrays the psalmist’s overwhelming sense of being engulfed by sorrow and distress. It pictures the deep depths of his emotions and crying out to God. It reminds us that God is present even in the midst of our darkest moments, ready to bring comfort and restoration.
Jeremiah 9:1
“Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.”
This verse reflects the prophet Jeremiah’s intense grief over the plight of his people. It portrays his desire to weep continuously for those who have suffered. It challenges us to have a compassionate heart that is moved to intercede and lament for the brokenness around us.
Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
This verse declares the healing power of God for the brokenhearted. It assures us that He is able to mend our emotional wounds and bring restoration. It encourages us to trust in His loving care and seek His healing touch as we pour out our tears before Him.
John 16:20
“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”
This verse is part of Jesus’ teaching to His disciples about the coming sorrow and eventual joy. It acknowledges the reality of weeping and mourning in this world but assures us that, through the work of Christ, our grief will be transformed into lasting joy. It instills hope in the midst of tears.
Psalm 30:11
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,”
This verse testifies to God’s transformative power to turn our sorrow into joy. It illustrates His ability to change our circumstances, removing the garments of mourning and adorning us with garments of joy. It reminds us of His faithfulness to bring about remarkable transformation in our lives.
John 11:35
“Jesus wept.”
This verse captures the shortest verse in the Bible but carries significant meaning. It reveals Jesus’ heart of compassion and His understanding of human pain and suffering. It assures us that we have a Savior who empathizes with our tears and is intimately acquainted with our grief.
Luke 19:41
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it”
This verse portrays Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem out of His deep love and concern for its people. It demonstrates His heart of compassion and His desire for their repentance and salvation. It reminds us of God’s heart for humanity and His longing to bring salvation and transformation.