Tag Archives: Loss

The Hope of No More Tears

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I wrote the following article just over four years ago, having experienced more pain and grief than I could ever remember having experienced before.  And then in May 2021, I reposted the article, noting the overwhelming amount of grief surrounding me again, grief both my own and that of family and friends.  New grief was being experienced; former grief was being relived.  Loss was inundating our lives like it always does, but it seemed to have risen to a new level.  And then it continued to rise.  Loved ones were lost, some suddenly and some slowly.  Health declined, jobs disappeared, dreams had to change, and tears ruled the day—and the night.  The anniversaries of what had been lost showed up on the calendar as they do every year and had to be faced as surely as the day had to dawn.  And here at the outset of 2022, I realize I have just come through a year full of more grief than I have ever known before.  But with that realization stands the same underlying truth I knew in 2017 and early 2021, hope and comfort comes, too, because I know the God of all hope and the God of all comfort.

(Repost)

No More Tears

“Whew!”  That is about all I can say right now.  How about you?  Is your heart heavy and hurting?  It seems that everywhere I turn, people are in great pain.

I must admit that I have been crying my share of tears this year, even just this month; yes, even just this week.  Difficulties just pile and pile on.  Relentless.  Tears cried in a hospital.  Tears cried at a memorial service.  Tears cried in my home.  Tears cried in anger.  Tears cried in pain.  Tears cried in disappointment, frustration, offense, ….

Well, I have news for you, for us.  For those of us who have Jesus as our Savior, someday there are not going to be any more tears.  No more hospital tears, funeral tears, angry tears, pains-of-all-kinds tears.  Nope.  Not a one.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 KJV)1

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.2

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.3

NOTES

©Text and photo Francee Strain, January 16, 2022.

1 “No More Tears” and photo were originally posted November 15, 2017.  Revelation 21:4 taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, public domain.

2 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible, ©1982 by Thomas Nelson.

3 Romans 15:13 taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible, ©1982 by Thomas Nelson.

No More Tears

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There is so much grief surrounding me right now, and on top of my own grief, friends and family are grieving losses, both current and former. Losses inundate our lives—losses of loved ones, health, jobs, dreams, and more. The anniversaries come around, too, and the pain resurfaces anew, but so can hope and comfort.

I wrote the following post over three years ago, but I hope it will bring a measure of hope and comfort to you.

(Repost)

“Whew!”  That is about all I can say right now.  How about you?  Is your heart heavy and hurting?  It seems that everywhere I turn, people are in great pain.

I must admit that I have been crying my share of tears this year, even just this month; yes, even just this week.  Difficulties just pile and pile on.  Relentless.  Tears cried in a hospital.  Tears cried at a memorial service.  Tears cried in my home.  Tears cried in anger.  Tears cried in pain.  Tears cried in disappointment, frustration, offense, … .

Well, I have news for you, for us.  For those of us who have Jesus as our Savior, someday there are not going to be any more tears.  No more hospital tears, funeral tears, angry tears, pains-of-all-kinds tears.  Nope.  Not a one.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”  (Revelation 21:4 KJV)

NOTES

©Text and photo Francee Strain, May 1, 2021. Originally posted November 15, 2017.

Losing and Winning

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We have lost so much this year—and are concerned we will lose even more.  We are worried about losing via the elections, losing our jobs, losing our health, and losing our freedoms.  The reality is, pandemic or not, we lose all sorts of things in life.  At any time, we can lose money, homes, jobs, loved ones, health, quality of life, and sometimes even life itself.   Life can be very scary and very sad.  It can be so difficult to get through each day and to keep on keeping on.  How can we?  Why would we want to? 

I want to encourage you that life can also be good.  We might find all sorts of good things: happiness, the loves of our lives, the perfect jobs, and sometimes even our car keys.  And think of all the blessings we still have!  But there is something even greater than these available for us to find, the thing that matters most of all: the salvation of our eternal souls.  Jesus gave the treasure of His life, poured out on the cross, to provide that salvation for all who would believe.  Have you ever gathered that treasure to yourself?  He offers it freely to you. 

And when you have secured your eternal life, your earthly life can be filled with the treasures of peace, joy, hope, and love.  And no matter what you lose on earth, these treasures will always remain.

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b NKJV

©Text and photo Francee Strain, October 31, 2020

Some text adapted from Francee Strain, No Ordinary Invitation: Called to Live a Life of Eternal Purpose, (Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, 2017), 63-4.