Message summary: Today's message is the third in a series based on Revelation 21:4 concerning that which we'll not see or experience in heaven when "the former things have passed away". Today we consider sorrow.

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"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).


This week as we consider the five "no mores" in the daily text it occurs to me that they sum up all that makes life unpleasant; tears (of sadness), death, sorrow, crying and pain. These are emotions we have all experienced and will continue to experience. What a blessing when we live in a time when these things are "no more".

Today we consider sorrow. Other versions translate "grief", "anguish", "suffering", "sadness".  Oh, how we long for the day when these heartrenching emotions will be no more, but on this side of eternity they are a part of life. As an old Andrae Crouch songs states, "I've had many tears and sorrows".

We experience sorrows personally. Do you remember your first sorrow? Probably not! But there are sorrows we each recall.

We also experience sorrow when we  bear the burdens of others.

In ministry work there's a danger that I heard years ago described as "compassion fatigue". I heard it in a presentation by Dr. JoAnn Butrin, a long-time friend who has been in medical missions for over 40 years. She was describing the experience of her work following the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where an estimated 500,000–1,000,000 Rwandans were killed during a 100-day period. Called in to provide aid in the aftermath she shared how she was overwhelmed by human need and the sense of despair and hopelessness.

There are times we experience compassion fatigue in the course of our chaplain work as we serve out in the highways and byways of the workplace. We can tell you for sure; people don't leave their sorrows at home! Of course those in ministry deal with this on a regular basis.

Whether our sorrows are a personal experience or whether it's bearing the burdens of others our faith in God and His promises is crucial, especially today's text which is a wonderful promise for those enduring sorrow. Let us consider it again but allow me to take a liberty in the translation and personalize it. "And God will wipe away every tear from my eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away"



Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we look forward to that land where there will be no more sorrow, for it will be a thing of the past. Since there will be no more dying, no pain, no disease, no sin at all there will be nothing to make our hearts sorrowful. For now, though, we deal with sorrow in this life. When our hearts are heavy we can call out for help like the Psalmist who prayed, "My soul is weary with sorrow, strengthen me according to Your Word." We can be strong and courageous as we hold to Your righteous right hand. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

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"When He Carries Me Away"  Video  The Collingsworth Family  This is the song we quoted throughout today's message. We expect to hear the Collingsworth family when they're in our area June 25. We have enjoyed the Collingsworth Family for many years and have been to several of their concerts. It is a family comprised of a husband, wife and four grown children. Their harmonies are outstanding. Local readers may get more information about the concert here.

"Never Too Broken To Belong"  Video  Gold City  What a great reminder of God's call for us to follow Him and His promise of acceptance regardless of how broken we are.


"I'm Trading My Sorrows"  Video  Guy Penrod

Rwandan genocide

Yesterday we alluded to a statement of a tombstone and a reader sent in this one that will prompt some pondering!