I love (and sometimes really dislike) how my kids are unafraid to ask me for unreasonable things, cry when I say “no,” and then come to me for comfort.
Their tears aren’t toward me personally, though it may feel like it to them and myself for a time. Their tears are really for the loss of something they hoped for.
They find comfort in me not because I have changed my “no” to a “yes” but because I don’t shame them for their emotions. I comfort them in their grieving what they wanted. (obviously this is not always because, hello, I’m a human with limits and sinfulness).
Though I hope they mature in their requests and their respect toward me when I say “no,” I also hope they continue to tell me their hearts’ desires knowing that I will be there with them no matter how they may feel about the answer.
A verse in Hebrews has been sticking in my mind for the past couple weeks. It’s a small example of what Jesus’s relationship with His Father is like.
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.”
Hebrews 5:7 ESV
Jesus expressed His feelings and desires to His Father even though He knew the answer would be “no.” Jesus must have been confident in His Father’s love and full acceptance to ask anyway. Jesus knew He would be heard and comforted even if His request wouldn’t be granted.
“And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
Luke 22:43-44 ESV
Jesus’ bodily expression of His emotions was not an act of irreverence to God. His sweat and tears while pleading with God were not signs of distrust or disobedience.
They were evidence of Jesus’ humanity.
God designed humanness.
My humanness is not irreverent to God – my sinfulness is.
In fact, my emotions and my bodily expressions of those emotions are most safe and welcomed in the presence of the One who created them.
My Creator and my Father wants me to bring all parts of myself to Him. I will not be turned away. I am eternally accepted because Jesus did experience rejection from His Father. He experienced it once so I never would have to.
And that’s what makes Jesus going to His Father with tears and an earnest request more bind boggling. It wasn’t the physical pain alone that He was asking to be removed. It was the separation and disapproval and wrath of His Father that He asked to be removed.
But He received a “no.”
It was confirmation that He would be crushed by His Father.
Jesus endured the shame of being crushed by His Father because of the joy that was ahead of Him – the joy of being reunited with His Father when their rescue plan was complete.
“…[Jesus], who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
I’m left (nearly) wordless. That’s a perfectly resilient and secure Father-Son relationship.
And the only separation I experience from my heavenly Father is from not bringing parts of myself to Him.
Even the unreasonable things … He wants me to bring those too.
The Worth Of Knowing 
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