Video summary

FATHER, TURN MY TEARS INTO THE TESTIMONY I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR | Apostle Joshua Selman

Main summary

Key takeaways

Wellness and Self-Improvement

Key wellness / self-care / productivity strategies (from the prayer)

  • Bring all emotions to God (no pretending):

    • Offer honest tears and acknowledge fatigue, confusion, disappointment, and fear.
    • Refuse “performing strength” that doesn’t match your inner state.

  • Use gratitude to protect your emotional health:

    • Start with thanks (breath, mind still working, hope still present).
    • Treat gratitude as a way to keep the heart “soft” during delays.

  • Release emotional burdens that drain you:

    • Let go of bitterness, resentment, comparison, and isolation.
    • Replace self-condemnation with faith-language and hope.
    • Surrender fear that you’ve been “forgotten” just because results aren’t visible yet.

  • Reframe timelines and reduce anxiety-driven control:

    • Release deadlines and “set dates” you’ve been carrying.
    • Trust that timing may not match your calendar without assuming delay means denial.
    • Avoid anxious striving and outcome manipulation.

  • Aim for “heart healing first,” not circumstance-first:

    • Let peace and hope arrive before the visible answer.
    • Consider the first evidence of testimony as a restored heart, not immediate external change.

  • Turn tears into purposeful “seed” rather than withdrawal:

    • Keep tears moving toward God (not away), so sorrow can become spiritual growth and compassion.
    • Emphasis example: Hannah’s changed countenance before Samuel’s birth.

  • Seek appropriate support when needed (practical self-care):

    • Ask for grace to accept help through:
      • medical care
      • counseling/therapy
      • pastoral support
      • wise community
    • Do not delay help “without shame.”

  • Mind your daily capacity (reduce future-load):

    • Don’t carry the entire uncertain future on today’s shoulders.
    • Focus on today’s responsibilities and practical next steps.

  • Stress management through prayer style changes:

    • Continue prayer even when words are hard—God understands groaning and fatigue.
    • Ask for emotional stability: holding honesty + hope together.

  • Rest and renewal as part of resilience:

    • Pray for renewed strength, rest, and a prayer life “built on trust,” not desperation.

  • Encourage compassionate mourning and presence with grief:

    • God’s nearness is portrayed as meeting people inside sorrow (e.g., Lazarus/Mary).
    • Grief shouldn’t be rushed or suppressed to be “acceptable.”

Key themes and scripture anchors used

  • Psalm 56:8: God “counts” wanderings and keeps tears in a bottle.
  • Psalm 34: God is close to the brokenhearted; saves those crushed in spirit.
  • Hebrews 4: Jesus sympathizes with weaknesses.
  • Romans 8: Spirit helps in weakness; intercedes when words aren’t enough.
  • Hannah (1 Samuel 1): Changed countenance before visible testimony.
  • Psalm 126: Sowing in tears → reaping with joy.
  • Isaiah 61: Beauty for ashes; joy for mourning; praise for despair.
  • Lamentations (mentioned): Mercy is fresh every morning.

Presenters / sources

  • Presenter / speaker: Apostle Joshua Selman
  • Scripture sources referenced: Psalms (Psalm 56:8, Psalm 34, Psalm 126), Hebrews 4, Romans 8, 1 Samuel 1 (Hannah), Isaiah 61, Lamentations, plus Lazarus/Mary narrative (Gospel reference not explicitly named in subtitles).

Original video