Eyewash

 “. . . And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces, and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth, for the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 25:8)

Men, women, and children do it—we cry. An eyelash or foreign particle in the eye, grief, allergies, hurtful words, a joyous moment—we cannot escape tears. Yet, tears are helpful. Every time we blink, tears moisten the eye, and that lubrication helps us see more clearly. Crying also keeps the eyes clean and free of bacteria. Using artificial tears as an eyewash substitute is okay, but natural tears are by far more effective, for they can also “wash the soul.”

Sometimes our emotional state dictates when tears flow, and even though it doesn’t seem to at the time, crying releases different chemicals, making one feel better. G. Gensen wrote the song: Tears are a Language—God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul and hears them fall. He understands what caused the pain and is always nearby to help. Ira F. Stanphill wrote the lyrics to He Washed My Eyes With Tears—a broken heart exposes fears and pride to which we are sometimes blind; brokenness reveals God’s glory and the greatness of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.

Shedding tears occasionally arouse a thoughtful spiritual self-check-up. They are beneficial, but one day God will wipe them all away because we will no longer need them.