Cowboys Cry Too

“Jesus Wept” - John 11:35

June is Men's Mental Health Month, and with it comes with some sobering statistics. Men account for nearly 80% of suicide deaths in the United States. Men are less likely to seek therapy, less likely to talk openly about emotional struggles, and more likely to suffer in silence. That's not because men don't hurt. It's because many of us have been taught that strength means carrying our pain alone. And for the women reading this, chances are there is a husband, father, brother, son, or friend in your life carrying far more than he's letting on. Which is why I find it fascinating that the shortest verse in the Bible might also be one of the most important for men to hear: "Jesus wept."

Think about the timing. Jesus wasn't standing at Lazarus's tomb wondering how the story would end. He knew exactly what He was about to do. He knew Lazarus would walk out of that grave in a matter of minutes. He knew death was about to lose. And yet He still cried. Why? Because confidence in God's plan doesn't make pain imaginary. Jesus didn't rush past grief to get to the miracle. He stopped and felt it. The One who would soon raise the dead first stood beside hurting people and shared in their sorrow. You can trust God completely and still grieve deeply. You can believe in God's promises and still acknowledge that something hurts.

Whether you’re a man reading this, or a woman reading this and thinking about a man in your life, I think it’s important to realize that a lot of men need permission to do the same thing Jesus did. To grieve. Not permission to quit. Not permission to wallow. But permission to admit when something hurts. Permission to stop pretending everything is fine. Permission, even to themselves, to seek help and admit they can’t do it on their own. Permission to believe that needing help doesn’t make them a failure. The strongest man who ever lived openly expressed grief, anguish, and distress. The strongest man who ever lived needed 12 friends alongside him. So this week, I would encourage you to remember that if Jesus could stand at a tomb and weep, maybe strength isn't found in hiding our struggles. Maybe strength is found in bringing them into the light and trusting God with them. The Savior who conquered death is not intimidated by your pain. He understands it. After all, Jesus wept.