By Pastor Dave Holland
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace. Luke 19:41-42, NIV
Jesus dismounted the donkey, looked over Jerusalem…and wept. The road to resurrection always passes through tears. Before Easter morning came the sorrow of a Savior who grieved for His people. They could not see what would bring them peace.
Across the centuries, Christ’s tears still echo. And the question remains for us: Who are you willing to weep for?
The mark of spiritual maturity is learning to pray for others. Prayer lifts our eyes beyond ourselves. It rises above denominations, politics, and divisions. God reigns above all, and prayer touches the heart of God.
Sometimes prayer comes with tears.
Many years ago, I was eighteen years old and kneeling at the altar in my home church after the worship service. The organ played softly as people lingered in prayer after the service. The air hung thick as the burgundy carpet beneath our feet.
As I prayed, I heard someone nearby weeping loudly. Honestly, it bothered me. The crying grew louder. This woman was making quite a scene: Lady, could you quiet down? I’m trying to pray here.
Then I turned to look. An elderly woman was behind me, and she was crying—for me. I was stunned. That woman’s prayer changed my life. Not because she preached to me. Not because she corrected me. She prayed for me.
Passionately.
Something inside me shifted and I wept. Prayer is not merely a quiet religious exercise—it s love expressed before God. I want to pray for others like that woman. I want to pray and weep like Jesus. At some point, life has to stop being about me.
Why did Jesus stop His triumphal entry to weep over Jerusalem? Because the people were missing their moment of visitation. They saw the parade…but missed the Prince of Peace.
Jesus mourned because they could not see the path that would lead them to life. People who pray often see what others miss. Prayer gives vision and reveals God’s path forward. Prayer brings light into dark places.
The same “shift” I felt at eighteen is what leaders like President Abraham Lincoln needed to navigate dark places. Lincoln understood the power of prayer. Before Gettysburg, he reportedly withdrew alone and prayed earnestly for God’s help. Victory came, and Gettysburg became a turning point in the Civil War.
Our need for prayer is no less urgent today. Broken homes. Neighbors struggling with addictions. Loneliness all around us. The wounds are everywhere.
The prophet Ezra understood this burden, “While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God… the people gathered around him and wept bitterly.” (Ezra 10:1, NIV) Revival often begins with passionate prayer.
Who will weep for children growing up in broken homes?
Who will pray for those trapped in addiction?
Who will cry out for wandering sons and daughters?
Who will intercede for our churches, our communities, our nation?
Who will pray for the young people how the elderly woman prayed for me?
Jesus wept. And perhaps sometimes… so should we.
Christ’s tears paved the road to His resurrection. Who will cry out to God today?
Dave Holland pastored churches for 38 years before retiring in Destin, Florida. His new book, Resurrection Jesus, is now available. You can get a copy of his books from his website, DaveHolland.org, or at Amazon.com. Pastor Dave is available to preach and teach at churches and conferences. Contact him at DavidvHolland54@gmail.com.
