Fears and Tears…But Jesus

I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,
  But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night.
I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care,
  And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.

Just a Little Talk with Jesus
By: Cleavant Derricks (1909-1977)

Listen as you read.  This is an updated version of this old hymn.

Last week a little walk, this week a little talk.  Walking and talking with Jesus, spending time with Him, changes us and our perspective.  I hope you will take a little time today to tune your heart, and tomorrow as Dr. Sherri Woods returns with her second Wednesday Wanderings, a different look at the text we will use to tune today.  You can be certain of getting if you are on our list, since it will come directly to your email.  If you are not on our list, sign-up today in the box to the right.

Let’s tune our hearts!

I May Have…?

Our text today starts with those words.  “I may have doubts and fears”.  May have?  Will have!  Oh yes, I will have doubts and fears, but they will not have me.

It is important not to take things out of context.  These first two lines which we will use to tune today are really one thought.  I understand the writer is saying that though I may have doubts and fears, I also have Jesus, and that awareness changes everything.  We will be examine this more thoroughly, but I think it is valuable to consider the difference between having something and it having you.

We all have doubts.  We doubt others.  We doubt ourselves.  We even doubt God.  There is a difference between having doubts and doubts having you, and it is a very important distinction.  You see, to have a doubt means simply that you lack certainty in something that may actually be worthy of it.  This can be overcome as we allow God to replace our doubt with faith.

It is another matter altogether for doubt to have you.  By this I mean that rather than simply possessing some doubt, doubt possesses you.  It takes you captive.  It overwhelms and controls you, influencing you in ways of which you are not even fully aware.  It is possible to overcome even when doubt has you, but it is much more complicated and challenging.

The same is true of fear.

Like doubt, fear comes in a variety of packages and from a myriad of sources.  Those listed in the image here are not an exhaustive list, but you quickly get the gist of the different kinds of ways fear manifests in our lives, often masking itself in other feelings.  So what are the most prevalent feelings for you which show the underlying root of fear?  Helpless, worthless, powerless, inadequate, lost, shameful, etc.

Before we move on to consider the tears they cause, take just a few moments to recount some of the doubts and fear you have, and evaluate if any of them have you.  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them and help you see them clearly.

Tears

We all have doubts.  We all have fears.  And those doubts and fears fill our eyes with tears on more than one occasion.  This is true not only for us, but all others who have professed our faith.  The Psalmist indicates as much on numerous occasions.  Here is one of the most common.

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”  Psalm 42:3 ESV

See, you are in good company with the very ones who experienced the inspiration of the Scripture.  Even they shed tears from doubts and fears.  Though it may not feel like much of a consolation now, as you reflect on this reality you will quickly see the universal condition of the human soul.  

Life has many challenges.  Many of them leave us feeling very powerless and small.  But we are never without hope.  We will examine why that is true as we tune our hearts to the truth of the next phrase, but first…

Take a few moments and have a little talk with Jesus about the tears you are shedding today or this season.  I am certain you do not have to think long and hard for these things tend to be near the surface, but ask Him to reveal anything that might be below the surface so you can deal with that pain and its’ causes. 

But Jesus…

So you have done a little inventory or the doubts and fears that are causing the tears in your life.  Let’s bring them to the One who cares for you.  Your friend.  Your shepherd.  Jesus.

I do not live in a society that is intimately familiar with shepherding so I do not have a deep experiential understanding of this illustration as used in the Scripture.  I can appreciate that Jesus watches over me not like one who is doing a job, but as one who has taken a personal interest in me, in you.

Over the years however I have learned some things about shepherding which have aided my understanding of this powerful image.  The most powerful one says a shepherd is willing to go to extreme measures to exercise his care for his sheep.  A lamb prone to wander must be taught stay near the shepherd to avoid danger.

If a lamb continues to wander, a good shepherd is willing to break the leg of the lamb and then carry it until it heals, so the lamb gets so used to the shepherds voice it will no longer wander.  That seems like going too far, but when you realize if could be the difference between life and death for the lamb, it seems less so.

The same is true for us.  I imagine there are some tears the Lord could spare us, but they are worthwhile if through the shedding of them, and the nearness to our Good Shepherd they foster, are are sparred much greater harm.  That possibility may give you a much better perspective on the things that have been the source of your tears.

Thank Jesus for being such a good shepherd that He would allow some pain to spare you far more.

Day and Night

Allow me to leave you with one final thought.

Jesus is eternally, continually vigilant in His care for you.  Even when you are sleeping, He never is.  Not only is He a good shepherd, but He is one who NEVER stops shepherding, even when you are asleep, or in many other ways unaware of His care.

That is hard for me to fathom, but I believe it is true.  Like that statue looking down upon Rio de Janeiro depicts, Jesus is watching us.   He never closes His eyes to us.  He never quits.  So I can always talk with Him since He is ever inclined to hear from me.  Hallelujah!

We will continue to warm our hearts with these truths as we continue considering our conversation with Jesus on Thursday and subsequent weeks, but be sure to take a few minutes and cultivate that heart to converse with Jesus through the video log and transcript below the prayer.  The video is available only to our Subscribers, but the transcript is available to everyone.  Become a Subscriber today.  Simply click here.

Restful Tuning!

Jesus, I have my share of doubts and fears, and they cause me many tears, but You are always watching over me.  I believe this, but I pray you will help me walk with a greater awareness of that, especially in those moments when I may be tempted to act like it is not true. In Jesus name.  Amen.

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Subscribers and Free Members enjoy this video! Everyone, the transcript below.

Video 8.2 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,
  But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night.
I go to Him in prayer, He knows my every care,
  And just a little talk with my Jesus makes it right.

I love the honesty of the opening line.  We all have doubts and fears and things that bring us to tears.  What sets the believer apart is that we can take all those things to Jesus.  What do you need to bring to Jesus today?

There is no friend like Jesus. This reminds me of His suffering in the Garden of Gethsamane when He asked His disciples to watch and pray but they kept falling asleep.  Thank Jesus that He is always watching over you. 

Because He is always watching over you, He knows your every care, even the ones you have trouble articulating.  Fortunately, the Spirit helps you even when you do not have the words to speak. Maybe you need some help like that right now?

I love the idea of a “little” talk.  Many words are not needful. Like sitting with a friend who knows you so well that few words get the job done.  Some of the together time is spent just being. Spend a few moments right now with Jesus.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

Image Attributions
Doubts – https://pixabay.com/photos/depression-sadness-man-2912424/
Fears – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fear-emotion-anxiety-vulnerability-2083651/
Eyes Filled with Tears – https://pixabay.com/photos/eye-tear-cry-sadness-pain-emotion-609987/
Jesus is a Freind – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/angst-anxiety-anguish-apprehension-802639/
Day and Night – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-christ-redeemer-231724/