The Healing Cry

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

Sadness deadens the circulation in the blood vessels and nerves and also retards the action of the liver. It hinders the process of digestion and of nutrition, and has a tendency to dry up the marrow -interior substance- of the whole system (2MCP 458.2).

A good cry never hurt anyone. Yet many people refuse to cry or express their negative experiences in a healthy way, even though our bodies were designed to process emotions, not suppress them. When sadness and stress are continually bottled up, the body carries the load.

Research in psychoneuroimmunology shows that chronic emotional stress and depression are associated with increased inflammation in the body, affecting the cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune systems (Miller & Raison, 2016). Ongoing activation of the stress response system can disrupt digestion, sleep, and circulation. Through the gut-brain axis, emotional distress directly influences digestive function. The body and emotions are not separate; they speak to each other constantly.

But there is balance. Crying all the time, remaining in sorrow without processing or support, can also signal dysregulation. Persistent, overwhelming sadness is often associated with depressive disorders, which are linked to systemic inflammation and physical strain. Tears are healthy when they move us through grief, not when we become stuck in it. Remember that God designed the body with a rhythm of release and restoration—to grieve what is wrong and then to receive comfort.

We are not meant to suppress sorrow, nor to live in it indefinitely. There is a season to weep and a season to rise. For the best result, weep at the feet of Jesus, and the joy of His strength will be yours.

May you find joy today.

-Dr. Dana

Get your copy of Dr. Dana’s devotional, Your Daily Pill for Mental Fitness here.