Onions Make Me Cry

A number of years ago the Apostolic Church of God Sisterhood Connection Ministry took a large group of women to the movie theatre to see one of the latest box office hits. It was a truly moving, emotional and intense movie about familial and marital relationships. We all enjoyed the film so much that the leaders of the ministry planned a small group fellowship a few weeks later to gather and discuss our thoughts. Our beloved First Lady Evangelist Mary Brazier was tasked with facilitating the informal discussion. As she went around the room encouraging everyone to chime in, the conversation quickly shifted from banter about fictional characters to “real talk”. We all agreed that what was shared in the room stayed in the room and at that very moment the room shifted to a truly emotional space. All of a sudden, after taking a beat, First Lady Brazier uttered these six words “You know…onions make you cry”. It’s a phrase we’ve heard time and again but this time it really struck me. She went on to unpack her sentiments using the image of an onion and its layers as a metaphor for life. How the layers of an onion can represent stages of celebration, pain, new beginnings and so on. But as you peel back those layers… for as much flavor an onion may add to your favorite dish…as you are preparing (peeling) they often make you cry. And here’s a truth every home cook knows down in their bones: if you want to add richness, depth, and flavor to a meal, you have got to chop an onion or two. But oh my goodness, the price we pay at the cutting board! You stand there with a sharp knife, and within seconds tears are streaming down your face like a flood. You look like you’re weeping over a tragedy, but in reality, you’re just trying to prepare a savory meal!

Yet, for all the tears they bring, onions are deeply fulfilling. They add nutrition and life to a dish. And let’s look at it from a biblical perspective. When the Hebrew people were wandering in the wilderness, they looked back on their time in Egypt and actually lusted after the onions and garlic they ate there. Think about that—even in bondage, the onion was so satisfying and full of flavor that they remembered it in the desert!

Sometimes, the very things that make us weep are the very things that feed our souls.

But wait, why are we talking about onions? Well, harvesting onions can also represent the changing season of the soul. As the bright and vibrant green of summer fades and the crisp autumn air begins to roll across the landscape, nature undergoes a dramatic transformation. Leaves fall, temperatures cool, and the Earth prepares for a period of rest. Fall is a spiritually significant time—a divine reminder built right into creation that not only is change inevitable, but it's necessary.

That shift you feel in the air? That’s not just a change in the weather; it’s an invitation from the Holy Spirit. So often, we dig our heels in when a new season rolls around because change forces us out of our comfort zones. But listen to me: God never strips away a season without intentionally preparing you for the territory ahead. When the leaves drop, it’s not death—it’s dynamic preparation. Just like peeling back the layers of an onion, the changing seasons of our lives can bring tears. Letting go of a past chapter, stepping into the unknown, or enduring a season of pruning can be painful. But saints, God never allows a season of shedding without a promise of renewal. The Scriptures remind us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” God is the Master Gardener of your life. He controls the climate of your soul, and He never wastes a single tear you shed.

But let’s be real about the wait, because waiting is where the warfare happens. Autumn is traditionally the season of harvest—a time when the seeds sown in sweat, prayer, and tears finally yield their fruit. But enemy territory is often conquered in the quiet, hidden spaces of endurance. You might be standing in a season right now where you’ve sowed in obedience, yet all you see around you are bare branches.

Don't throw in the towel! In our fast-paced world, we want instant answers and fast-food blessings. But God works through seasons. The Apostle Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

"Due season" means God’s appointed time—not a second early, and not a second late! The quiet work happening beneath the surface of your life, in the dark soil of waiting, is where your spiritual roots are driving deep. God is building stamina in you. The tears you cry today are watering the very ground where your breakthrough is going to burst forth.

Saints, don't fear the changing seasons. Embrace the shift. Allow the cooler winds of change to drive you closer to the warmth of God's presence.

It’s time to get strategic. If you want to see God move in this new season, you cannot rely on casual, drive-thru prayers. You need to carve out quiet, intentional time to sit at His feet with an open Bible and a focused heart. Jesus didn't say if you pray; He said when you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and meet your Father who is in secret (Matthew 6:6). That closed door shuts out the noise of the world so you can tune your ear to the voice of the Shepherd.

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and watch how He transforms this changing season into an abundant harvest for your soul!