Thomas Watson

“We spend our years with sighing; It is a valley of tears; but death is the funeral of all our sorrows”

Thomas Watson

Life holds many wonderful experiences and we carry many good memories with us from those experiences. But often times those good experiences last but a minute and the reality of our struggles rears it’s head again. We hold those memories close and pray for better days to come, but sometimes those days don’t come. And for some, better days have never arrived at any point in their life.

For the Christian, as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, we have help in our dark days. The sighs can still be heard from us, we are human and still feel the weight of our sorrows, but we have living and active Holy Spirit within us ( 1 Cor 3:16) helping us make sense of these trials, growing our hope for the day of the Lord.

While in the flesh we do live in a valley of tears. Some tears are seen and shared by others, but some are internal weepings from a spirit so broken that keeping silent seems to be the better option. I have known many who silently carried their burdens so they wouldnt seem to be a burden on someone else.

If we were able to read the mind and heart of the happiest person we know, it would be a tear filled drama full of afflictions, insecurities, doubts, and internal struggles. A life full of smiles doesn’t necessarily equal a life without sighs and sorrows.

The Christian has hope. The God that created us and called us will certainly direct our paths and hearts in all things. As the Christian sees hope and blessings in times of joy, we should also see hope and blessings in times of sorrow and yes, even in the thought of death. Death is hope realized. All our hopes come to fruition when we pass from this life to the next. Our sorrows will be buried, never to be brought back and re-lived. We will be in the presence of the “I AM”. I really can’t imagine anything that would bring more joy than that.

This life will be hard at many times. And for some, life is hard most of the time. Sorrows will burden us down and make it difficult to place one foot in front of the other to move forward. Our tears may fill one thousand valleys, but God promises to wipe them away (Rev 21:4). We may feel alone but He never forsake us (Heb 13:5). We may feel like we have no strength to carry on, but God is our strength (Ex 15:2, Pslam 46:1-3, Psalm 28:7). We can rest assured knowing God is working both for us and through us for good and will preserve us until His determined end for us (Philippians 1:6).

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.