Through The Vale Of Tears
Text: John 16:16-22
In
the name of Jesus: Amen.
We
live our lives, as Christians, in the valley of tears. Yes, we Christians live our lives in the valley
of tears, or as they poetically say, in this vale of tears.
The
phrase, “vale of tears,” is a phrase that is often used to describe the
tribulations of life that we Christians all experience in the here and now. In other words, from the time of your conception
until your death, you and I, travel and labor through this valley of life – a
valley that is characterized by tears, trouble, and sorrow. Indeed, we live, breathe, and have movement not
on top of the mountains, but more often than not, within this valley of
tears.
Considering
this valley of tears, it is a valley that is dark. It contains hardships, suffering, loss, grief,
persecution, and pain. It is a valley
that is clouded with gloom, where we experience the attacks of the devil, the
struggles with the sinful nature, the persecution of the world, and the sting
of death itself.
For
us as North Americans though, we like to pretend that our lives are not in this
valley of tears. That’s right; we like
to avoid the valley of tears at all costs.
It makes us uncomfortable and it goes against our ingrained view of
entitlement. So, we try to make peace
with the darkness of the valley. We try
to turn the lemons of the valley into lemonade.
We convince ourselves that we are overcomers. We say, “When we get knocked down, we get up
again.” And then when we stand as
supposed overcomers, we look into the dark valley of tears and we roar as if we
are invincible.
We also
buy every kind of gadget that promises to take us from the valley’s tears to
happiness – every gadget that promises us an easier life. We are suckers when it comes to those
infomercials with their three easy payments.
Then with all of our gadgets we also run to positive messages that don’t
remind us of the valley of darkness that we are in. Oh, and don’t forget death! We do everything possible to sanitize the
effects of death. Plastic surgery can
fix dying skin that sags on our faces, makeup covers the wrinkles of age,
Rogaine attempts to reverse hair lose, and medication can temporarily reverse
the effects of disease. We all dream
that we can be like the Joneses down the street who have apparently overcome
the valley of tears.
All
this stated though, no matter how hard we try to climb out of the valley of
tears or deny it, there is no escape – the valley’s walls are too steep and the
valley is too dark. No matter how hard
we wipe away the tears, they keep flowing – they keep flowing until our last
dying breath. In this life, the devil
continues to attack, our sinful flesh always longs to sin and wreak havoc in
our lives, and the world continues to spew forth lies. There is no bottom to this stuff.
Consider
this example for a moment. The very fact
that we do so much to avoid the sorrow and darkness and tribulations of this
life, is evidence that we actually are ‘in’ the valley of tears. The very fact that we long for the peace,
security, rest, and wholeness of the Garden of Eden is evidence that we are
stuck in this valley of sadness, sorrow, and grief.
Now,
I do not share this to be a killjoy and I am not trying to place a raincloud
over your heads; but rather, I am sharing this because this is the way that
life is. It is a reality. Life in this world is tough. In this earthly pilgrimage, the devil and the
world will never stop assaulting you. If
you speak the truth the world rages in anger; it begins to curse, condemn,
persecute, and you will endure its scorn and mockery – which leads to tears.[1] “And if the world can whip out its sword
against you, it will surely do that too, with master devil joining the fray,
driving such poisonous, fiery darts into your heart that you will almost
literally suffer a meltdown.”[2]
Considering
all of this, when you experience this kind of suffering in the valley of tears,
what do you do and what will you do? Keep
in mind that you cannot escape the valley – the walls on each side are too
high. Also, you cannot turn around and
get out of the valley – it is too dark.
Maybe you can give up – curse the valley, curse the world, and curse
God! But this still does not change the
fact that you are in the valley. So,
what shall you do?
Dear
friends, do not panic and do not fret.
Be still this hour and this moment; hear right now. Did not Christ predict that there would be
trials and suffering and pain in this life?
He certainly did. However, our
Lord Jesus Christ also said that this valley of tears will only be a ‘little
while.’ Truly, this valley of tears is
only ‘a little while.’ The comfort of
the Christian is that this life on earth is only ‘a little while.’
It
might seem strange to consider our lives in this valley of tears to be a little
while; however, when we measure our short lives to God’s eternity, it really is
a short time in comparison. Our lives
are infinitely small compared to the amount of time that awaits us in
eternity.
Dear
Baptized Saints, do not lose heart and do not grow faint this day. The valley of tears does not last forever;
there is an end to the valley. There is
an end to the tears, an end to the suffering, an end to the persecution, an end
to sin, an end to pain, and an end to the devil. It is only a little while. Be patient, wait it out, take courage!
Consider
a woman about to give birth. Her agonies
and contractions increase. Her laughter
is silenced. She sees no end to her
pain. In the midst of labor the
contractions seem like an eternity of hurt.
The pain blinds her from reality.
Fear can take hold of her as she may wonder if she and the baby will be
preserved through the anguish and pain of birth. However, objectively speaking the labor is
only a little while – there is an end to it.
In a moment, all of her tears are turned to laughter, her fear is turned
to victory, and her sadness is turned to joy.
At once the anguish and pain and fear and doubt are forgotten as she
hears and sees the beloved newborn child in her arms.
This
exchange will be the same for the church – for you and for me. As the church, we too are in this labor with
its contractions of pain. Yes, the
valley of tears is like the pains of labor.
As with labor though, our sorrows in this valley of tears will not last
forever, but will be turned into eternal joy.
Indeed, the valley is dark, but soon there will be a glorious day. We walk with the shadow of death in the
valley, but soon there will be the light of life. We walk with evil around us in the valley,
but in a short while the devil, sin, and the world will have their end.
Dear
Baptized Saints, you mustn’t forget that the Lord Jesus Christ has all things
in His hand. The wind, the sea,
sickness, disease, and death itself have submitted and will submit to Christ
once again. Therefore, dear Christians,
let the devil, the world, and all the tyrants storm and rage. Let them have their worst. Let them growl, let them thrash, for they can
only do so as God permits them and they can only do so for a little while.
As for the time being and as we continue to walk through the valley of tears, you Baptized Saints must cling to the promises of God’s Word – the promises that are for you. Continually receive the Sacrament of the Altar – that is given and shed for you. Remember your Baptisms – where God’s name was placed upon you. Patiently endure any misfortune, comforting yourself with the truth that the Lord is with you in His Word and Sacraments. Comfort yourself with Jesus’ Word that this life is only a ‘little while.’ Know that as tough as it gets in this life that the Lord holds not only the beginning but the end of this world.
As for the time being and as we continue to walk through the valley of tears, you Baptized Saints must cling to the promises of God’s Word – the promises that are for you. Continually receive the Sacrament of the Altar – that is given and shed for you. Remember your Baptisms – where God’s name was placed upon you. Patiently endure any misfortune, comforting yourself with the truth that the Lord is with you in His Word and Sacraments. Comfort yourself with Jesus’ Word that this life is only a ‘little while.’ Know that as tough as it gets in this life that the Lord holds not only the beginning but the end of this world.
Do
not grow weary and do not grow faint in this valley of tears, for the Lord grants
power to the faint and increases the strength of those who have no
strength.
Wait
for the Lord and rest dear Saints – the Lord holds you. The day is coming that the valley of tears
will end and all things will be made anew.
Lift up your chins, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His
mercies never come to an end. Do not
fear the drops of tears from your eyes, for the Lord will not cast you
aside. Sadness lasts only ‘a little
while’ and then will change into gladness.
All grief will be swallowed up in the end and pain will be remembered no
more.
In
the name of Jesus Christ: Amen.
[1] Martin
Luther, Complete Sermon of Martin Luther:
Volume 6 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House Company, 2000), 90.
[2] Ibid.
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