I Burst Into Tears

I BURST INTO TEARS

a prayer to open

In the midst of my pain, Lord, I cry out to you.

When darkness sets in and I can’t see the light,

lead me in the way of hope, and fill my heart with joy.

When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”

This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness. . . .

When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.

But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness.

There are times when all we can do is burst into tears out of despair and distress. Hagar’s experience as told in this passage from Genesis certainly falls into that category. What more could she do? She had no ability to change her circumstances, and all she could see in her future were a dead son, a lifetime of begging, and everything else a dismissed slave woman would face. She was without hope and could do nothing more than cry tears of anguish. In the midst of her agony, though, God acted to relieve her suffering and filled her with hope and life again.

• Reflect on a time when you were in utter despair and could do nothing more than burst into tears. What do you remember about God’s presence during that time? How did he restore you to hope and life?
• What loss or experience might you need to grieve that you’ve previously avoided or suppressed? What fears do you have about lamenting that experience or loss?
• In what area of your life are you longing for renewed hope and life? What is your prayer?

Open my eyes to your presence, Lord.

Heal what’s broken.

Fill me with hope and life again.