Sometimes crying is necessary

July 2, 2024

I’m feeling very anxious and sad today which, as some of you know, is an awful combination. You can’t treat one without affecting the other, which means that in trying to lessen the anxiety, I may increase sadness, and in trying to lessen the sadness I might increase the anxiety. It’s a very hard choice to make when your emotions are already so overwhelmed.

Emotional upheaval zaps your physical energy and strength which feeds the emotional turmoil, and this keeps the unhealthy cycle going. It’s very hard but we must stay involved and connected with life, and continue to seek help from caregivers, (doctors, natural healers, therapists, family, friends). We also need to exercise as much as we possibly can. I know how hard that is, but we need to challenge ourselves to encourage healing.

But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. Romans 5:3-4

And again, I’m not saying that I do all of this well all the time, or even at all sometimes, especially concerning exercise. I do have to accept the fact that I am not at my best right now and that means sometimes I will have to take a break from striving and just rest. But, at the same time, I can’t let my lack of energy and ambition dictate too much of my day.

Answer my prayers oh Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. Psalm 69:16

At times, I’m so full of emotional pain that I have to cry but crying is not always negative. It can be a positive thing. The key is not to let yourself drown in sorrow but instead, to use the tears to let the pain out and encourage healing. I know it’s difficult but, when we have a lot of emotional pain, we need to let ourselves cry as often as needed. The last thing I want to do is add more sadness to my day, but it needs to come out. Keeping it bottled up only makes things worse.

And healing does take time, more than we would like but it won’t be rushed. I’m not patient with that when it’s been hanging on for months. I’ve even yell at God in my pain but I think that he understands. He made me, he knows me, and he understands my struggle, better than I ever will. And I don’t end the conversation with yelling and demanding. I end it with thankfulness for what he has done in the past and the healing that takes place in the present.

Oh God, listen to my cry, hear my prayer. From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety. For you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shadow of your wings. Psalm 61:1-4