Prayers of Compassion, an article by Brian Heasley

Published: May 16th, 2008

What is it with tears? Why do we find it uncomfortable to cry in front of others? It’s strange that when we have a tearful moment we often say, “I’m sorry”, as if somehow we have done something wrong. Benjamin Disraeli said, “Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for the truth.”  Perhaps when we cry we reveal something deeper within ourselves.  Maybe we reveal the truth.  Tears can show what really moves us, what really stresses us or what really hurts us. They reveal the truth that we are human.

Grief and loss are inevitably and justifiably a major cause of tears.  Words can no longer express how we feel and our aching hearts overwhelm us to find their voice in tears.

Psalm 57: 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.” I have this picture in my mind that one day we will walk through a giant cellar with God, He will draw a bottle from the shelf and say  “I remember this vintage, I remember when you cried these tears, I was there”. Pain, sorrow, loss - when we are in those hard places it is difficult to find God. But He’s present, bottling our tears and standing with us.

But what about other tears?  Those that don’t come from personal loss, pain or suffering?  What about those tears that come unexpectedly and almost take us by surprise?  I was speaking at a gathering recently and found myself crying as I spoke. It was not the first time this has happened.  I had been talking about an area or people group that I love and I started to cry. I had been recounting a story and suddenly the tears came.  I can cry at a news report and I know I am not the only one.

At these times, it’s compassion that brings the tears. Compassion that longs to see change, to alleviate suffering, to show kindness where we perceive a need.  Our tears reflect our heart again.

But where tears in times of grief may be part of a healing process, tears of compassion can move us to take action. When we are moved with compassion, we seek to help those that inspired those feelings in us.   It is compassion that drives us to see a place changed, a life transformed, a need met, a situation resolved or an injustice righted. This is the very heart of God. Somehow in that moment of tears our hearts connect with His heart.

When Christ’s friend Lazarus died, he wept.  But his weeping moved him to action, to prayer. One of the greatest responses we can have to our own tears of compassion is prayer. If these tears remain only tears they are fruitless.  When we are moved to tears by what we think, see or hear; when we become affected by the suffering, pain and injustice that many people live under, it should be that prompt which brings us to our knees. Our tears morph into prayers, our cries and groans rise like incense to heaven and the God of heaven himself is moved to listen and to act.

Charles Swindoll said “A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven”

Don’t fear the tears, don’t rush to brush them away and think of something more cheerful; rather let your heart response drive you to new levels of prayer, intercession and action.

Brian Heasley is joint leader of 24-7 Ibiza with his wife Tracy; he is also on the International Council of 24-7prayer. Brian is dad to Ellis and Daniel and they has lived in Ibiza since 2005, establishing a permanent 24-7 base on the island. They work predominantly in San Antonio, one of the most hedonistic night spots in Europe. Brian loves food, Liverpool Football Club, eBay and buying clothes from thrift stores.  You can contact Brian and dialogue with him on his blog. Brian also owns over 20 pairs of shoes. 

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