“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8
Life has had many ups and downs. When I experience something disappointing or sad, I process my feelings with the Lord. But sometimes, when the trial becomes too much, I find it difficult to process my emotions with him. This happened to me when I learned that a loved one was not coming for the holidays. Additionally, I may not see him for quite some time. When I realized this reality, I got very sad. As I went through the learning process, I quickly realized that I was in the process of grieving. I was mourning the loss of how things used to be and my connection with that person. Once I was able to pinpoint the emotions underneath the sadness and loss that I was experiencing, I was able to process it better and come to a level of acceptance.
But sometimes it’s easier said than done. Depending on the nature of the offense, it may be challenging to get through the deep sadness and pain. As Christians, we don’t do grief well. We often want to sweep our deep emotions under the rug and pretend like they don’t exist. However, these feelings that are stuffed eventually arise at different times in our lives. We must express those emotions and use whatever positive outlet we can to manage them to be healthy, whole people living in Christ's promised freedom.
The above verse is a great encouragement for us. The psalmist David went through a great trial when he lost his own son. We see David process his emotions on the pages of the psalms. In this psalm, he’s reassuring readers that God knows every tear we’ve cried. He knows every pain we’ve ever experienced. God, who is the God of justice, knows when we’re innocent and when we’re guilty. When we’re innocent, he fights for us and ensures we receive the justice we deserve. Though we may never see justice for people who have wronged us in this life, we can hope that God keeps track of all our tears.
The above verse suggests that each tear is recorded in a book. He never forgets when we’ve cried or experienced difficult emotions, like pain or sadness. When we are with God in heaven, we won’t have any more pain. This verse reminds us that this life is temporary. God promises justice for every time we have been wronged, whether we see it on earth or not.
Although God may not have collected our tears in a bottle or kept track of our sorrows, God, who promises infinite compassion, does not forget. He chooses to remember the times when we have been broken-hearted. He comes in his goodness and gives us his comfort and peace. Additionally, only the spirit can comfort us with words of affirmation during difficult times.
Take a moment and think about the most recent profound loss you experienced. What emotions surrounded that event? Did you cry tears of sadness? Did you get angry and stuff all your feelings? Did you turn to someone with godly counsel who can help give you practical solutions and hope? God promises that we will always have trouble in this life, but he promises we will never be alone. When we experience pain or suffering, knowing that God will get us the justice we deserve is essential.
Buy a blank journal and make it your book where you record all your tears. Write down when you have felt sadness, grief, anger, or other negative emotions. Say each one aloud, one by one, and ask God to take the pain from you. Sometimes, all we need to rid ourselves of pain is to ask him. God’s will was never for us to experience pain or suffering in this life. However, because of the fall of man, recorded in Genesis, pain and sorrow are part of this life. But what we do with it matters. When we choose to give our emotions over to God, living in hope that he keeps track of all our sorrow, we can let go of our feelings and give them over to him, allowing him to be the scorekeeper of our sorrows.
Father, let us be people who positively experience grief and suffering. Let us release our emotions to you and any appropriate outlet. Once we have given way to all those emotions, help us let them go, knowing that you are the ultimate scorekeeper for our lives. Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward
If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Tuesday, 04 November 2025.
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