Day 9 — Jesus Wept

“Jesus wept.”

— John 11:35 (BSB)

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.”

— Psalm 34:18 (BSB)

“Jesus wept” is the shortest verse in the Bible. Just two words. But those two words tell us something huge about God.

Jesus’ good friend Lazarus had died. When Jesus arrived, He saw Lazarus’s sister Mary crying, and all their friends crying with her. And Jesus cried too.

Here’s what’s amazing: Jesus knew that in just a few minutes, He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead! He knew the sadness was about to turn to joy. And He still cried. Why? Because He loved His friends, and He felt their pain. He didn’t rush them. He didn’t say, “Cheer up, it’s not a big deal.” He was sad with them.

That tells us something important: it’s okay to be sad.

Sometimes people think Christians should always be happy, or that being sad means you don’t trust God enough. But that’s not true. Jesus was sad. David cried a lot in the Psalms. The Bible says there is “a time to weep” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

Maybe you’re sad right now. Maybe a friend moved away, or your pet died, or your parents are going through something hard. Maybe you feel sad and you don’t even know why. That’s okay too.

When you’re sad, remember Psalm 34:18: “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” Your heart can feel broken, like it’s been cracked in pieces. And that’s exactly when God comes close. He doesn’t stay far away until you feel better. He draws near to you in your sadness, just like Jesus did with Mary.

You don’t have to hide your tears from God. You can cry to Him, tell Him how much it hurts and ask Him to hold you. He understands. He’s cried too.

And if you feel sad for a long time, or if sadness feels too heavy to carry, please tell a parent or another grown-up you trust. God often comforts us through people who love us.

Think about it: Why do you think it matters that Jesus cried, even though He knew Lazarus was about to come back to life?

Try this: If you’re sad about something, tell God about it honestly today. You could also write Him a letter. If someone you know is sad, be near them, like Jesus was.

Dear Jesus, thank You that You understand what it’s like to be sad. Thank You that You came close to people who were hurting, and You come close to me too. When my heart feels broken, help me remember that You are near. In Your name, Amen.