Sacred Tears: Simple Reminders That God Sees You and Loves You

by Lindsey Wheeler, Mary Carver

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 NLT

Whatever you are going through as you read this, you need to hear these words: God sees you, He loves you, and your story is not over. Every tear you shed is precious to Him. Your suffering is not in vain.

This collection of heartfelt essays, eye-catching word art, inspiring Scripture verses, honest prayers, and uplifting photography will meet you in your place of pain, offering solace and refuge for your weary soul.

Lovingly written by Lindsey Wheeler, a pastor’s wife and adoptive mom who lives with chronic pain, Sacred Tears will bring you the blessed respite you’ve been longing for and remind you that you are never alone. You’ll discover what to do when you feel far from God, how to trust Him even when you don’t understand His plan for you, and how to handle the difficult decisions that often accompany painful situations. All this and more await inside.

Experience the hope and comfort only God can provide.
 

Genres: Spirituality, Christian

160 pages, Hardcover

Published January 5, 2021

Reviews

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of the company Bottle of Tears, but I received this book as part of a gift box from a friend. Initially, I had 0 intentions of reading the book because I wrongly assumed it would be annoying and platitude-y. But I flipped it open and the photos were so pretty that I decided to give it a chance. And it was pure comfort. I found it so sincere and compassionate; truly the opposite of what I expected and exactly what I needed.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! It’s heartfelt and special. The way the authors weaves scripture and prayer throughout the telling of her story is incredible!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful combination of Lindsey Wheeler's personal story and ministry, meaningful quotes, and eye-catching images. Lindsey's message of love from God, even through difficult circumstances, is especially meaningful to me. As someone who has gone through the hardships of losing loved ones in the midst of broken relationships, financial struggles, and personal health battles, it's easy to retreat into oneself for protection and remain isolated. It's been especially hard for all of us as we're in a season of a pandemic and have been forced to become less engaged with people. Lindsey's message of hope, along with her encouragement to walk with others through the messy parts of life, has sparked a personal word from God in my heart to not let my own personal struggles paralyze me. God wants to use us, in the middle of our pain, to bless and walk with others through theirs. What a picture of what Christ does for us! I'm so grateful to have an opportunity to read this book and be inspired to live a life of courage and love for others!

**I was given a complimentary copy of this book in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.**

[Ashley Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across Lindsey’s business a few years ago and loved how, through her own health and family struggles, she blesses others facing grief or trials. I was very excited to hear she had written a book to share how God has and is working in her own situations, as well as many she has heard from through her Bottle of Tears. This book is full of encouragement for difficult circumstances, without promising easy solutions. My favorite quote was‘ “God is good” doesn’t mean “I got what I wanted”.’ Such an awesome reminder that He is so much bigger than whatever we think or plan. Lindsey constantly reminds readers with scripture that sometimes the road is very long and very hard- God doesn’t always swoop in immediately and take away the pain- but He is always there with us. This book will be a great resource to have on hand when hard times come, and would make a great gift for those facing trials.

[Leah Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey has such a gift of connecting with those who are struggling. Her new book is such a gift of understanding, love, connection and hope for the hurting. Her Godly perspective is evident in everything she does. She has been such a blessing to me through her gift of words and I am so very thankful I can now share her words with others by recommending this book. If you are hurting, know someone who is or just want to be encouraged, this book is for you!

[Amanda Mohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful piece of work. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you might have gone through or are currently going through, this book will bless you!

This book shares so many meaningful revelations from the Lord, powerful truths from scriptures and prayers from my friend that has been walking through challenges of Lyme Disease and raising a child who has trauma.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacred Tears, filled with beautiful words and pictures, is a gift book for those going through the hard. And, let's face it, we can all use a book like this now! The author, who has a chronic disease, is raw and honest. Most importantly, she is a refreshing wind of encouragement that isn't surface-encouragement, but a deep, real encouragement. I can't wait to give this book as a gift!

[Sarah Kitchens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book of hope and a reminder that God sees us even in the midst of our despair and our pain. “We don’t need a huge stage or a bestseller or perfect photos in our Instagram feed. We simply need to love the broken-hearted. We just need to share what we have with whomever God places in our lives. And with that small offering, he will make us a beacon of hope, reminding those around us that true hope only comes through Jesus.” Praying I become this friend - one who loves the broken-hearted and sits in the grief alongside of people suffering. God is faithful and He cares! This book is for everyone - whether you’re in a season of hard yourself or you’re friends with someone who is - there is applicable truth and encouragement for everyone in these pages! Thank you Lindsey for your story of hope and how your family has faithfully encouraged others in the midst of the hard - so encouraged and challenged to do the same!

[Ellie Jean]

A lovely book with beautiful photos. Reading it made me feel so much less alone in the world in my times of hardships.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacred Tears is a wonderful book to gift to a friend walking through moments of grief, both large or small, expected or unexpected. In 14 essays, accompanied by scripture and prayer, Lindsey addresses grief and the grieving process. She speaks to it honestly, as someone who is suffering from a chronic illness and also as someone shepherding her daughter through trauma. Each chapter is just the right size, not too short, not too long, just the right length to convey the sentiment and offer encouragement. Oh, and the photos throughout the book are beautiful as well. If you have a friend or loved one entering a tough season, this would be the perfect encouragement to them (or yourself).

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a blessing to read. It is full of hope and inspiration and will lift your spirits. It is beautifully written and would make a wonderful gift. I loved it!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hardships are a fact of life, but I have found that many books on suffering are written from the other side of a major event. While these books are helpful, those walking through difficulties with no end in sight sometimes need encouragement from someone whose suffering has not yet resolved. Lindsey's book fills this gap; a reminder to look up and dare to hope from a fellow sufferer. It's an easy read - I found myself thinking that this would have been a great resource when I was acutely grieving and unable to concentrate on anything for very long.

(Review provided as part of the launch team for this book)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book full of hope in the midst of pain and suffering. The theme is: “God sees you, he loves you, and your story is not over.” Filled with encouraging Scripture, prayers, quotes, photos, and writing by a woman who has gone through so much suffering herself. It’s a book I want to give to friends going through difficult times, and reread many times myself!

[Kristin Vanderlip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too often our pain is confronted with before or after stories in an attempt to give us a hope that “things will get better.” But most of us are barely holding on and stories and platitudes like these don’t sustain us in the agonizing moment we must endure. If our pain isn’t bypassed with misplaced positivity that runs rampant in our culture, it’s often dismissed. We each face our own fair share of skeptics who rise up against our suffering and can’t see or hear us. However, in Sacred Tears, you meet a person who knows what it means to endure suffering and knows the One who sees tears and hears our cries. Lindsay lives with chronic pain and has experienced the rolling pains of this life that continue to ebb and flow. For me, the gift of this book is how Lindsay lives out the biblical art of seeing and showing up for the brokenhearted. I am so grateful she passes this wisdom along to us.

Whether you’re enduring your own pain or navigating your own grief, or you love someone who is on the frontlines and you’re wondering how to love and support them, this book is for you.

Over the years I have been blessed by prints, ornaments, a teardrop bracelet, and a vintage glass bottle from Bottle of Tears. I have been a longtime supporter and follower of Lindsay’s story, and her warmth and gentleness fill these pages.

In this book, Linsday invites you deeper into her own heart while also sharing touching stories of those who have known suffering and pain and have been blessed by gifts from her business. (And please know, because I’m afraid my words are falling short here, this book is not a sales pitch). Lindsay shows us how the goodness and faithfulness of God unfold in the midst of pain. These are words we all need. The comfort in these pages is sourced from the Comforter. The words are not plastic or glossy. They are filled with wisdom, truth, and honesty.

Now, on to the more practical bits. Each chapter is short, easy to read, yet not lacking depth and each deeply touching in its own way. Moreover, each chapter concludes with a prayer and a scripture. These touches highlighted the gentleness and genuineness of this book.

This book exudes a warmth that will not be missed, one that eases the icy pinpricks of pain plaguing so many of us.

Buy this for yourself. Gift it to a friend.

Words that stood out for me:

“God’s promise was never to remove my suffering but rather to show up relentlessly to get me through it.”

“When you feel like you’ve been abandoned, even by the Lord, take heart. Resist the urge to buy into the lie or wallow in the guilt of doubting God. He can handle it. You’re allowed your doubt. But don’t forget to look around for the rainbows, for the sunsets, for the smiling faces throwing you waves at a stop sign, or for the beautiful vintage bottles. Look for the small reminders that God has not left you and that he never will. That’s what I’m doing, even on the darkest days, and that’s my prayer for you.”

[Lindsay]

I received this little book as a member of Lindsey Wheeler’s launch team. Tonight felt like the right time to curl up on my couch and read it. A hard year is wrapping up and we’re all wishing for better days ahead. At times, it’s difficult to choose hope, gratitude, and faith in God’s goodness. I’ve followed Lindsey’s ministry since the beginning of Bottle of Tears and have sent her bottles and jewelry to friends who were grieving through losses and heartache. This book would be a good gift - a soft, comforting companion to one of her bottles. It contains prayers, scriptures, and personal stories from Lindsey’s perspective in the hard and messy middle of trials (not once they’re wrapped up with a bow), since she deals with debilitating chronic pain and has a child with complex special needs. In Sacred Tears, her overarching message is that God sees, cares, and is with you through it all.

[Christina K]

Lindsey Wheeler’s Sacred Tears is a story before happily ever after. Her promise to remind the reader that God sees them and loves them is kept with every chapter.

Lindsey’s faith-filled yet struggle-filled journey is peek into a life not free of the pain yet. The honor-burden of walking a child through trauma and struggling with her own chronic illness gives her the experience to speak about how to walk through hardship before it’s purpose is fulfilled.

She uses beautiful photography, cherished prayers, select scripture, and her own story to help other know that they are not alone. She encourages community and faith over and over again.

This a gorgeous book to pass on to anyone still walking through a difficult season. Lindsey’s words and perspective will help anyone still waiting for the purpose of their pain to be revealed. This book for you or for others is a gift.

[Kiersten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have followed Lindsey’s story over the last few years since I first heard about her and her company “Bottle of Tears” after an IF:Gathering. The hardships she and her family have endured are real and heartbreaking. But their heartache is always used to point people to the goodness of Jesus and the comfort of the Father who gathers our tears in bottles.

Lindsey’s words in this book are heartfelt and honest. Her words don’t deny the fact that life is hard and everyone has a story of hard things. But her words lead us back again and again to Jesus and the way He sees us and is in the hard with us.

I am thankful for Lindsey, Chris, and Eliana. For their willingness to share a sliver of their story and for reminding me that “joy and suffering can and often do exist in the very same space at the very same time.”

[Chelsea Duncan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book didn't live up to expectations. I was surprised, given how many positive reviews it has. I mean on the one hand, it's pretty, it's inspirational and it's honest to a degree. I liked the part where it said about how people often say she looks great when she feels bad. As a chronic illness sufferer myself I understand that all too well. But the book is really short, mostly filled with pictures of jars and pages with scriptures on, it can often feel like a marketing venture, and I don’t think the writer goes enough into detail about the things she’s dealing with. It would have been better if it was less vague, to be more relatable.
Alright as a gift, but as a serious book? Can’t really recommend, especially because it’s really hard to get hold of without paying full whack. Not for me I’m afraid.

[Jennifer Lauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid book to keep on your shelf for when you are in a season of struggle or grief and to be able to share its guidance with others. With short chapters and simple concepts, those who are overwhelmed by their circumstances will not struggle with gaining some wisdom, insight, and connection to what Lindsey Wheeler continues to live with daily. It is refreshing to have a book written by someone who may never see physical recovery for her illness instead of someone who considers themselves recovered. A book of insight rather than hindsight. The simplicity of the scripture verses chosen combined with the photographs of the bottles she distributes to those in their grief make this book a great resource for anyone.

[Emily Merryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey writes honestly about the struggles of living with chronic pain and being a mother to a special needs daughter. She connects with her readers in this heartfelt book filled with short essays that are easy to digest for those struggling and looking for hope. Her honesty about grief is relatable and gives hope. Her writings have encouraged me for years and helped me feel less alone in my own journey of chronic pain. I am so excited that she has a book out so I can read more than an Instagram post at a time. Lindsey does not minimize anyone’s struggles but validates them and affirms their value in Jesus. I highly recommend this book and think it can help you cope with whatever is going on in your life.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, real, encouraging. In Sacred Tears, Lindsey Wheeler walks readers through her own story while building hope for others who need to know they aren’t alone in their suffering. By sharing Biblical truths and honest insights about personal experiences of pain and grief, this book allows readers to explore what it means that God is present in the midst of suffering. An especially sweet & encouraging component of this book is the emphasis on “unseen” illnesses or sorrow, and the hope that there are others who also feel unseen, that need you as much as you need them.

I received an ARC of this book.

[Tracy Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey Wheeler has shared her story of joy, hope and deep suffering in this sweet book. Her story is one that includes living with Lyme disease, mothering a special needs child, marriage, the regular highs and lows of life while walking with God. It is a quick read, but the subject matter is deep and authentic. Lindsey holds her joy and suffering closely together and in sharing it with the reader provides an example of a faith that is real. This isn’t a book of platitudes that will leave you wanting, it is full of timeless truths that Lindsey has lived out and her open sharing provides hope for all of us seeking to walk with God.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the midst of difficult seasons, it can be so easy to believe that you are totally alone. That no one sees or understands your pain. That even God has left you alone to flounder in your grief. In Sacred Tears, Lindsey sits down with you and shares truths from Scripture as well as her own life. Grief is hard, not a single person knows how to fully navigate through it. But as Lindsey gently reminds us, we aren't alone and even if no one else sees our pain, God sees every tear that falls from our eyes! If you are in the midst of a difficult season, or know someone who is, this book is a precious gift to a weary soul!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Someone who suffers with several invisible illnesses as well as one who has a special needs child and the hurt of a child who has rejected me, I was able to relate with everything in this book. You don't have to suffer with these things, though, to benefit from this book. It is a reminder for everyone that God has not abandoned them. It also serves as a way to approach and help those who suffer. Everyone needs a friend who can be trusted, and this book reiterates that fact. It is an inspiring read that I highly recommend!

[K. Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book is not just encouraging, but it is honest. It is honest that life's struggles and pain can last a long time, and that they may last out entire life time. For someone who has to endure pain and loss, it is refreshing to see that someone also understands that sometimes these pains might not end until we meet our savior.

This book is about the day to day and how to take life one step at a time. It is also gives hope through God's word and inspirational quotations. It shows us that God does sees us and loves us no matter what we are going though.

[Kayla Hollatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. A sweet friend of mine sent this as a gift after the recent loss of two close family members. Although this book isn't specifically about grief, I felt that it met me where I was—shedding light on moments of pain and sorrow. I'm thankful for Lindsey's personal reflections and how she wove her faith into the book. It's a very short read that I read slowly, which I'd recommend doing for those who are grieving. I can see myself giving this book to another friend in the future!

[Emma Elsner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift from my Mom and exactly what my weary heart needed. As I’m still reeling from the loss of my baby, Lindsey provided hope and scripture and quotes to keep me going throughout the whole book. If anyone (including yourself) is suffering from any kind of loss, chronic illness or anything that makes hoping for tomorrow hard, then this is the perfect book. Go to bottleoftears.com to order.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8

[Robin Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Suffering has a way of leading to isolation, which in turn feeds our fear and anxiety. But you're not alone. The Lord hasn't abandoned you. He sees your pain. Look for the small reminders that God has not left you and that he never will."

"When you haven't been healed, when your heart is heavy, when the reality of walking through broken places threatens to overwhelm you, remember the times You've cried out to the Lord and found relief. Remember the prayers that have already been answered. Remember that he promises to be with you no matter what challenges life presents."

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. It is full of hope and encouragement. Lindsey shares her personal heartaches and struggles and she inspires us to have hope in the love of the Lord. She shows us the importance of showing up for the people around us and having hope for them when theirs is lost. It's an easy read but you will find yourself going back again and again to read the scriptures, prayers and words of encouragement.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you are walking though hard times you don't want to hear nice words from people who have had easy lives. They are nice to hear but carry little weight. But the words in this book carry so much weight & mean so much as we know Lindsey has walked though hard thing, & it still walking through hard things. So thank you Lindsey for sharing the hard things & the hope in Christ that you have found as you walk through difficult times!