Lindsey Wheeler - Sacred Tears: Simple Reminders That God Sees You and Loves You

Table of Contents

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

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Interior and cover design by studiogearbox.com

Cover and interior photos by Amelia J. Moore

This book contains stories in which peoples names and some details of their situation have been changed.

Sacred Tears

Text 2021 by Lindsey Wheeler and Mary Carver

Photography 2021 by Lindsey Wheeler

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-8173-6 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-7369-8174-3 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Record is available at https://Icon.loc.gov/2020018966.

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For Chris and Eliana, my little triangle family. It feels like weve been through it all together, but we know theres more ahead. Still, Id pick you both all over again. Every single time. Family sticks together, right? Love yall with my whole heart.

I imagine that you picked up this book because of an ache in your life, a place where you are hoping for healing and restoration. Youve come to the right place. I know well the gaping holes of suffering that my friend Lindsey Wheeler has lived through and the healing and hope she has fought for. In these pages, shes going to tell you her story of living through these dark days and of the healing that God has supplied to herhealing that is also available to you.

In Ezekiel 37, God makes an absurd promise in a conversation with the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel is looking at piles of bones, and God asks him, Can these bones live again? Ezekiel responds wisely: Lord, youre the only one who knows that. Then God brings the bones back to life.

God alone can breathe life into situations where all we can see is death. The greatest hope we have in life is that we follow a God who brings life from death. Without that promise, our worst fears come true, and we truly have no hope. But with that promise, there is ultimately nothing on this earth to fear.

That is how my friends Lindsey and Chris Wheeler live. Their lives are not easy. Their story is beautiful but also full of disappointment. Yet they have found joynot only for themselves but also for others, as you will read.

Usually when people share about their suffering, it is in the past. But this book is unique because Lindsey is still in the middle of her suffering. Her answers dont come with a beautiful floppy bow; they are written through tears. She is feeling the pain today, right now. She is still in the middle of it. And doesnt that make her the best comforter? Isnt that who we want beside us in the midst of our painthose who know pain?

Lindsey and Chris laugh, perhaps more than anyone I know. In fact, when I am with them, I laugh too. They are so great at laughing at life, theyre contagious about it. How can two people who have endured so much be such great laughers? And even more, how could they spread laughter everywhere they go?

I will tell you, and the answer isnt complicated. They laugh at the days to come because they arent afraid of them. Theyve tasted loss and disappointment, and theyve seen that even in the worst that can happen, their joy in Christ cannot be taken from them.

What has brought you to these pages? Do you need hope, do you need a confidant, do you need to cry, do you need to laugh? Do you need to believe down to your bones that Jesus is enough and that one day, he will wipe every tear?

You will find a home here with these words. Whatever you are facing, my prayer is that you leave these pages with tremendous hope, that you will be reminded of Gods great love for you through the Word of God, which is strung all through these pages.

The passion of Lindseys heart has been captured in her dream of Bottle of Tears. Over these years, Ive watched her ship bottles to so many people and pray for them. It has been a stunning manifestation of her contagious love, a love that she has received from Jesus and gives to everyone who knows her or is touched by her ministry. She believes down to her bones that hope is available for every tear you shed and every difficult story you might face. Prepare to experience that hope and healing in these pages. Im honored to call her a dear friend and honored to introduce you to her in these words.