When Your Heart Breaks

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
Psalm 126:5 (NIV)

When was the last time your heart broke for someone who doesn’t know Jesus?

I heard about a first-grader who tripped on the playground and scraped his hands on the pavement. His teacher rushed over, picked him up, and said, "Now, big boys don't cry." He looked at her and replied, "Oh, don't worry. I'm not going to cry. I'm going to sue!"

We've taught ourselves not to weep over what matters most. I wonder if fans across America shed more tears over lost sports games in one day than the church sheds for lost souls in a month. And the truth is, we don't share the Gospel more because we don't care more.

Psalm 126:5 says "those who sow with tears"—not just with their hands, but with their hearts. This isn't about duty. It's about compassion. 

Remember when Jesus stood before Jerusalem, weeping? John 11:35 contains the shortest verse in the Bible: "Jesus wept." Nothing broke Jesus’ heart like people far from God.

Ask yourself today: Do the things that broke Jesus's heart break mine?

This week, write down three names of people who don't know Jesus. Put that list where you'll see it every morning. Maybe on your bathroom mirror, your car dashboard, or your coffee maker. Every time you see those names, pray for them. Ask the Lord to give you tears for what makes Him weep.

Prayer: Father, thank Your compassions—they fail not and great is Your faithfulness to us, Lord. I confess I don’t have compassion like You do. But I want to, Lord. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Help me care deeply for people far from You. Help me see them the way You see them, and care about their eternity. In Jesus' Name, Amen.