Tears poured during prayer are a powerful symbol of one’s faith, sincerity, and closeness to God. Numerous instances of people crying as they express their sadness, remorse, or gratitude to God may be found throughout the Bible. These tears are a reflection of a heart that completely trusts in the Lord, not a sign of weakness. God provides consolation and the knowledge that He is always close to those who sincerely seek Him out because He sees every tear we shed and is aware of the burdens we bear.
According to Psalm 56:8, the Bible verses about tears in prayer reminds us that God cherishes our tears and gathers them as evidence of our hardships and trust. We show our reliance on His love and mercy when we call out to Him in prayer. God hears the cries of His people, as demonstrated by the tears poured in prayer by several biblical characters, including Hannah, David, and Jesus. When someone comes to Him with a damaged but trusting heart, He not only shows compassion but also takes action, giving them strength, healing, and restoration.
Tears shed while prayer can be a potent way to communicate with God during difficult, frustrating, or uncertain situations. They stand for the sincerity of our requests and the breadth of our feelings. Scripture informs us that the brokenhearted’s prayers are heard by God (Psalm 34:17-18). He delivers a calm that is beyond comprehension after seeing the silent tears of people who are struggling with unmanageable loads. Tears are a precious language that God fully understands, even when words fail.
In the end, the Bible tells us that prayerful tears are never in vain. They sow the seeds of faith and, in unexpected ways, bring about heavenly breakthroughs. Tears, whether shed in joy or sadness, bring us nearer to God and enable Him to operate in our hearts and lives. May we be reminded as we study these Bible passages that God values our tears and uses them to provide consolation, healing, and answers to our prayers.
30 Powerful Bible Verses About Tears In Prayer in 2025
1. Psalm 56:8
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”
This verse is a beautiful reminder that God sees every tear we cry. No pain goes unnoticed by Him. When we pray through our tears, He listens with compassion and stores every tear as a testimony of our faith and struggles. This verse reassures us that God values our emotions and understands our pain intimately.
2. Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
In moments of sorrow, this verse provides comfort. It reminds us that our prayers and tears are temporary because God has promised a future without suffering. When we cry in prayer, we should remember that God is preparing a place where all our pain will be erased, and His eternal peace will reign.
3. Psalm 34:17-18
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Tears shed in prayer are never wasted. God is near to those who are hurting, and He responds to their cries. This verse reassures us that even when we feel crushed, God is listening and working on our behalf to bring deliverance.
4. John 11:35
“Jesus wept.”
This short but powerful verse shows that Jesus Himself experienced sorrow and shed tears. When we cry in prayer, we are not alone—our Savior understands our pain and weeps with us. His compassion reminds us that God is deeply moved by our struggles.
5. 2 Kings 20:5
“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now, you will go up to the temple of the Lord.’”
God sees our tears and hears our prayers. He responded to Hezekiah’s tears with healing, demonstrating that our tears have power when they are lifted up to Him. When we cry out to God in sincerity, He takes notice and acts on our behalf.
6. Isaiah 25:8
“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.”
This verse gives us hope that one day, our tears will be wiped away by God Himself. Every tear we cry in prayer is a testimony to our faith and longing for His presence. One day, those tears will be turned into everlasting joy.
7. Lamentations 3:49-50
“My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.”
This verse reflects deep sorrow, showing how persistent prayer can be filled with tears. It reminds us that we should keep crying out to God, trusting that He will look down in His mercy and bring relief.
8. Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Our tears in prayer are not a sign of weakness but a means through which God’s comfort flows. He promises that those who cry before Him will find His peace and solace in their pain.
9. 1 Samuel 1:10
“In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.”
Hannah’s tears were a reflection of her desperation and faith. God heard her cries and granted her request, proving that heartfelt, tearful prayers can move His hand.
10. Psalm 30:5
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Even when our prayers seem to be met with silence, this verse reminds us that sorrow is temporary. God is working behind the scenes, and joy is on the way.
11. Hebrews 5:7
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Jesus Himself prayed with tears, showing that deep emotion in prayer is not a lack of faith but an act of surrender. Our prayers, filled with genuine emotion, reach God’s heart.
12. Jeremiah 31:16
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,’ declares the Lord.”
God assures us that our suffering and prayers are not in vain. He sees our efforts and will bless us in due time.
13. Luke 7:38
“As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”
Tears of repentance are precious to God. This woman’s tears showed her love for Jesus, and He responded with grace and forgiveness.
14. James 4:9
“Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.”
Sometimes, tears in prayer are necessary for repentance and spiritual renewal. God values a humble heart that comes before Him in sincerity.
15. Job 16:20
“My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God.”
Tears in prayer are a sign of deep reliance on God. He is our greatest intercessor and hears our every cry.
16. Ecclesiastes 3:4
“A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
Life brings moments of sorrow and joy. When we cry in prayer, we must remember that God has appointed times of joy to follow our tears.
17. Psalm 126:5
“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
Every tear we shed in prayer is like a seed planted in faith. In time, God will bring a harvest of joy.
18. Romans 8:26
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”
Even when words fail, our tears in prayer are understood by the Holy Spirit, who intercedes on our behalf.
19. 2 Corinthians 7:10
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
Tears of repentance lead to transformation. God uses our sorrow to bring us closer to Him.
20. Genesis 21:16
“Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, ‘I cannot watch the boy die.’ And as she sat there, she began to sob.”
Hagar’s tears in the wilderness were seen by God, and He provided for her and her son. God never ignores a desperate cry for help.
21. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
God is the source of all comfort. When we cry in prayer, He is not only present to soothe our hearts, but He also equips us to be a source of encouragement for others. Our tears are not wasted; they become a testimony to help those in need.
22. Isaiah 38:5
“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.’”
God acknowledged Hezekiah’s tears and answered his prayer. This shows that our tears in prayer move the heart of God. He listens to the cries of His people and responds with grace and mercy.
23. Matthew 26:75
“Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
Peter’s tears were tears of repentance. He had failed, but his sorrow led to restoration. When we pray with tears of regret, God forgives and restores us just as He did for Peter.
24. Genesis 45:2
“And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.”
Joseph’s tears were tears of relief and reconciliation. He had been wronged, yet God had turned his suffering into a great blessing. Sometimes, our prayers are accompanied by tears because we don’t yet see God’s plan—but He is working all things for good.
25. Psalm 42:3
“My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’”
There are times when our prayers seem unanswered, and we cry out in desperation. This verse reflects deep sorrow, yet it encourages us to keep seeking God, even in the darkest times.
26. 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
God invites us to pour out our worries and fears before Him. When we cry in prayer, we are surrendering our burdens to the One who cares deeply for us.
27. Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Our tears in prayer should not be rooted in fear but in faith. God’s peace will replace our anxieties when we lay them at His feet.
28. Psalm 116:1-2
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”
God listens when we cry out to Him. He never turns away from a sincere heart, and our prayers, even when accompanied by tears, are precious to Him.
29. Job 42:10
“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.”
Job went through immense suffering, and no doubt, his prayers were filled with tears. Yet God restored him beyond what he had lost. Our tears today can be the seeds of blessings tomorrow.
30. Joel 2:12
“Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’”
Tears in prayer often indicate a heart seeking God. When we weep before Him in repentance or need, He draws near to us with mercy and love.
Conclusion
When we pray, tears are a potent way to communicate our innermost feelings to God. They are a reflection of our hope in Him, our faith, our challenges, and our repentance. There are examples of people who cried out to God throughout the Bible, knowing that He hears and answers every tear that is shed in His presence. God is close to the brokenhearted and promises to answer those who sincerely seek Him, regardless of whether we are pleading for comfort, healing, or repentance of our sins. Because they have significance and purpose in our spiritual journey, our tears are never in vain.
We are reminded as we reflect on these Bible passages that God sees our tears, feels our suffering, and answers with His grace and love. He asks us to give Him all of our troubles, believing that in His perfect time, He would bring forth healing and serenity. While tears may fall during difficult times, they are frequently the seeds of significant breakthroughs and benefits. Knowing that God cherishes every tear and will transform our sadness into joy, may we continue to pray sincerely.
