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Tears and Tossings: Hope in the Waves of Life
No matter how we try to sugarcoat it, there's something about suffering and loss that shakes our confidence, disorients us, dulls the things we once enjoyed, and brings questions that demand an answer.
Tears and Tossings is a book for those days of chaos and nights of storms. Reflecting on her experiences of pain and hope, Sarah Walton encourages us to come to a God who loves us, knows us, and not only sees our tossings and tears, but holds them as his own.
Tears and Tossings is a book for those days of chaos and nights of storms. Reflecting on her experiences of pain and hope, Sarah Walton encourages us to come to a God who loves us, knows us, and not only sees our tossings and tears, but holds them as his own.
64 pages, Paperback
Published May 9, 2022
18 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Walton
6 books42 followersSarah Walton is the coauthor of the award winning book, Hope When It Hurts, as well as Together Through the Storms, and He Gives More Grace. She is the author of Tears and Tossings and The Long Road Home (children's book). She and her husband, Jeff, live in Colorado Springs with their four children. You can connect with Sarah on Instagram at @sarahpwalton and find more of Sarah’s writings at her website setapart.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 4, 2022
Some of the book was painfully familiar to me, especially chapter 2 when she describes an episode her son has, and feeling isolated from those who just don't understand the difficulties of raising kids with additional needs. There was much of Sarah's story that I could only relate to the suffering of friends who have long term health conditions, but it was all a reminder of the wonderful saviour who sees and knows us in our loneliness.
As I read it I was reminded of those I know who are going through hardships and painful situations, and how all I want is them to know the comfort of God, so I've ordered 15 copies and made a list of the people I want to give it to, along with a little bottle and the verse Sarah was given from the Psalms.
As I read it I was reminded of those I know who are going through hardships and painful situations, and how all I want is them to know the comfort of God, so I've ordered 15 copies and made a list of the people I want to give it to, along with a little bottle and the verse Sarah was given from the Psalms.
August 29, 2022
This would be a great gift for someone who’s going through a hard time. 88 pages, easy to read, great chapter choices (loneliness, grief & loss, hopelessness, pain, waiting, fear, shame), good gospel truth.
January 13, 2025
The pouring out of a heart of woman that has been through much suffering in life and yet holds firmly onto her faith in Jesus. A precious little book for those looking for the thoughts of a struggling human, spouse and parent, to help them think and pray through their own struggles in life.
February 19, 2023
This is a very honest book looking at the experience of suffering. It’s not theoretical, or written from an ivory tower. Rather, this is a book written from the Crucible of suffering, with a heartfelt faith in the goodness of God.
A very short book, that could be a help to those in the midst of suffering.
A very short book, that could be a help to those in the midst of suffering.
March 7, 2022
"You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" ~ Psalm 56:8
Author Sarah Walton knows what it means to suffer. She, her husband, and their four children have been on a difficult journey that has included special needs, chronic Lyme and co-infections, and financial difficulties, for years. In her new book, Tears and Tossings: Hope in the Waves of Life, Sarah shares their story and points readers to God, who holds all their tears in His bottle.
In 2017, I was introduced to Sarah's story when I read Hope When It Hurts: Biblical Reflections to Help You Grasp God's Purpose in Suffering, which she co-authored with Kristen Wetherell, and I've been following Sarah on Instagram ever since. I was excited when she shared about her new book, and I was invited to be an advance-reader and on the launch team.
Tears and Tossings is probably Sarah's most vulnerable book so far. It is about one-hundred pages long and is composed of nine short chapters. The fact that Tears and Tossings is concise is a strong point, as many suffering people, especially those with chronic illnesses, don't have the energy to read much.
Chapter one begins with Sarah introducing her story, and each of the following eight chapters focus on God holding our tears in a certain situation – loneliness, grief and loss, hopelessness, pain, waiting, fear, and shame. Finally, in the concluding chapter Sarah ties everything together and shares how we all are all spiritually sick and in need of a Savior.
This book is for anyone, but Sarah wrote it especially with non or nominal Christians in mind. And she did a good job with that – the book tenderly shares the gospel as she shares her own story, starting with a scene in a psychiatric hospital at age seventeen. She was desperately hurting and wondering whether or not God was real and if so, if He really loved and cared about her personally. She needed something or Someone to give her a reason to go on, and thankfully in that hospital room her life's trajectory was forever changed when she encountered Jesus.
Sarah's chapter on loneliness probably touched me the most. In it, she shares about the day a bottle showed up at her doorstep with Psalm 56:8, the theme verse of the book, rolled up inside. The timing was perfect because she was having a very difficult day as her son with special needs was having a chaotic episode. Sarah shares, "Not only was I physically alone, but the longer our son’s challenges lasted, the more isolating it became. Very few could relate to our specific circumstances and most barely knew they existed." But the bottle and the Bible verse were a reminder that she really wasn't alone, that God was with her, and that He saw all her grief and pain was holding her tears in His bottle.
I also strongly resonated with the chapter on waiting, as I have been chronically ill for nearly seven years. In that chapter, Sarah shares her own experiences of waiting and reminds readers of the Biblical story of Lazarus, who was deathly ill. In that story, Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, but He waited to come to them. By the time He arrived four days later, Lazarus was dead, but Jesus had a purpose in delaying and showed His power in resurrecting him. To quote Sarah, "Jesus chose to wait—not in coldness or indifference, but in love. He was showing them the miraculous power and glory of God through the waiting."
Sarah also writes, "Maybe, like Jesus’ delay in coming to Lazarus, he has something greater in store for us. Maybe he wants to give us peace in knowing there’s a purpose in our waiting. Most importantly, maybe he wants it to lead us to search for hope and life in Jesus, rather than putting our hope in what we’re waiting for—just as he did for Mary and Martha."
Tears and Tossings comes with my recommendation and releases on May 1st. Pre-order it now on Amazon or 10ofThose.
Author Sarah Walton knows what it means to suffer. She, her husband, and their four children have been on a difficult journey that has included special needs, chronic Lyme and co-infections, and financial difficulties, for years. In her new book, Tears and Tossings: Hope in the Waves of Life, Sarah shares their story and points readers to God, who holds all their tears in His bottle.
In 2017, I was introduced to Sarah's story when I read Hope When It Hurts: Biblical Reflections to Help You Grasp God's Purpose in Suffering, which she co-authored with Kristen Wetherell, and I've been following Sarah on Instagram ever since. I was excited when she shared about her new book, and I was invited to be an advance-reader and on the launch team.
Tears and Tossings is probably Sarah's most vulnerable book so far. It is about one-hundred pages long and is composed of nine short chapters. The fact that Tears and Tossings is concise is a strong point, as many suffering people, especially those with chronic illnesses, don't have the energy to read much.
Chapter one begins with Sarah introducing her story, and each of the following eight chapters focus on God holding our tears in a certain situation – loneliness, grief and loss, hopelessness, pain, waiting, fear, and shame. Finally, in the concluding chapter Sarah ties everything together and shares how we all are all spiritually sick and in need of a Savior.
This book is for anyone, but Sarah wrote it especially with non or nominal Christians in mind. And she did a good job with that – the book tenderly shares the gospel as she shares her own story, starting with a scene in a psychiatric hospital at age seventeen. She was desperately hurting and wondering whether or not God was real and if so, if He really loved and cared about her personally. She needed something or Someone to give her a reason to go on, and thankfully in that hospital room her life's trajectory was forever changed when she encountered Jesus.
Sarah's chapter on loneliness probably touched me the most. In it, she shares about the day a bottle showed up at her doorstep with Psalm 56:8, the theme verse of the book, rolled up inside. The timing was perfect because she was having a very difficult day as her son with special needs was having a chaotic episode. Sarah shares, "Not only was I physically alone, but the longer our son’s challenges lasted, the more isolating it became. Very few could relate to our specific circumstances and most barely knew they existed." But the bottle and the Bible verse were a reminder that she really wasn't alone, that God was with her, and that He saw all her grief and pain was holding her tears in His bottle.
I also strongly resonated with the chapter on waiting, as I have been chronically ill for nearly seven years. In that chapter, Sarah shares her own experiences of waiting and reminds readers of the Biblical story of Lazarus, who was deathly ill. In that story, Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, but He waited to come to them. By the time He arrived four days later, Lazarus was dead, but Jesus had a purpose in delaying and showed His power in resurrecting him. To quote Sarah, "Jesus chose to wait—not in coldness or indifference, but in love. He was showing them the miraculous power and glory of God through the waiting."
Sarah also writes, "Maybe, like Jesus’ delay in coming to Lazarus, he has something greater in store for us. Maybe he wants to give us peace in knowing there’s a purpose in our waiting. Most importantly, maybe he wants it to lead us to search for hope and life in Jesus, rather than putting our hope in what we’re waiting for—just as he did for Mary and Martha."
Tears and Tossings comes with my recommendation and releases on May 1st. Pre-order it now on Amazon or 10ofThose.
March 22, 2022
Sarah Walton is in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances when an anonymous gift unexpectedly lands on her doorstep. As Sarah walks through storm after storm, this gift continues to point her towards God's Word, affirming that hope is just as real as suffering. Tears and Tossings is a beacon of hope, guiding the reader through life's waves and toward the light of truth.
Sarah shares her own story, walking the reader through ways that God gives hope in the midst of pain and loss. Sarah's personal experiences with suffering, both past and ongoing, lend credence to her writing, and thoughtfully chosen passages of Scripture support each point. Sarah deftly crafts this quick read to be easily understood by non-believers and yet thought-provoking for believers. Through Scripture and personal anecdotes, Tears and Tossings breathes hope into the darkest of times.
Sarah shares her own story, walking the reader through ways that God gives hope in the midst of pain and loss. Sarah's personal experiences with suffering, both past and ongoing, lend credence to her writing, and thoughtfully chosen passages of Scripture support each point. Sarah deftly crafts this quick read to be easily understood by non-believers and yet thought-provoking for believers. Through Scripture and personal anecdotes, Tears and Tossings breathes hope into the darkest of times.
January 26, 2024
While I know Sarah personally I learned new aspects of her many struggles in this transparent and moving book. As someone who has undergone a tremendous amount of suffering, she speaks honestly from her heart about the pain while pointing to the only hope that comforts, strengthens and enables you to endure. This is a book that will appeal to both Christians and seekers alike. Short but substantial, Tears and Tossings is a welcome invitation to find hope in the One who holds our tears.
July 9, 2022
Such a beautiful little book describing how God meets us in our pain and suffering. The author uses examples from her own life as she writes about the mercy of the Lord, but I found myself reminded of times in my own life or on behalf of others when I have cried tears that seemed like they would never stop. What a gift to know that the Lord sees me in that grief and pain and that he cares. I’m going to buy copies to have on hand as I hear of people struggling or to gift along with a meal or a card.
September 16, 2022
A short book on the suffering of Sarah Walton and her family and the hope she found in God through it all. Really easy to read and very real.
April 27, 2022
Tears and Tossings by Sarah Walton is a powerful personal testimony of what it means to find hope and purpose in the midst of suffering.
If you have ever asked questions such as ‘What’s the purpose of my suffering? Do my tears just fall to the ground as useless? Why is God allowing this pain if he really loves me?’, Sarah’s book will lead you to Biblical truths that will help you to process your suffering, grieve where you need to and find hope in the pain.
This book encourages the reader to look to the God who sees our suffering and keeps track of our tears. Sarah doesn’t gloss over the reality of day-to-day suffering, the pain of grief or the difficulties of living with chronic illness, but points us to the truth that we have a loving Father who can even use suffering for his good purposes – our suffering and pain are never wasted.
This book will be an encouragement to people who have been a Christian for a long time and is also appropriate for people who may be just starting out on their faith journey. Sarah clearly explains the reality of what it means for us to be living in a broken world, why Jesus came to die for us and the hope that Jesus gives us in our suffering.
The stories Sarah shares show that she has experienced suffering on a personal level in her life and she is more than qualified to help and encourage others on this topic. The short chapters are easy to read and full of insight, wisdom, and Biblical references.
If you have ever asked questions such as ‘What’s the purpose of my suffering? Do my tears just fall to the ground as useless? Why is God allowing this pain if he really loves me?’, Sarah’s book will lead you to Biblical truths that will help you to process your suffering, grieve where you need to and find hope in the pain.
This book encourages the reader to look to the God who sees our suffering and keeps track of our tears. Sarah doesn’t gloss over the reality of day-to-day suffering, the pain of grief or the difficulties of living with chronic illness, but points us to the truth that we have a loving Father who can even use suffering for his good purposes – our suffering and pain are never wasted.
This book will be an encouragement to people who have been a Christian for a long time and is also appropriate for people who may be just starting out on their faith journey. Sarah clearly explains the reality of what it means for us to be living in a broken world, why Jesus came to die for us and the hope that Jesus gives us in our suffering.
The stories Sarah shares show that she has experienced suffering on a personal level in her life and she is more than qualified to help and encourage others on this topic. The short chapters are easy to read and full of insight, wisdom, and Biblical references.
February 23, 2023
Pain and suffering are such a common thing in this world, and its very easy to wonder why God would allow it. Author Sarah Walton seems to have gone through her share of bad times herself; this book hints at some life-changing disability that she has suffered, but this book talks about how she changes her perspective about what she is going through.
This was quite a short book, so was easy to read in less than an hour. The book made some good points, including making reference to the fall on man in Genesis 3, which is the reason why we live in such a broken world. The primary focus of this book is about how God does not forget about His people, but that we need to be patient, and endure the bad times, waiting for Him to fix things on His own timing.
She also makes reference to the example of Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom living through the holocaust, and their reaction to the fleas in the concentration camp that most people would find challenging. It have read Corrie's book, "The Hiding Place", and should probably read through it again.
Overall, this was a very encouraging read, ending with a very simple and uplifting message: "Suffering is real. But so is hope".
This was quite a short book, so was easy to read in less than an hour. The book made some good points, including making reference to the fall on man in Genesis 3, which is the reason why we live in such a broken world. The primary focus of this book is about how God does not forget about His people, but that we need to be patient, and endure the bad times, waiting for Him to fix things on His own timing.
She also makes reference to the example of Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom living through the holocaust, and their reaction to the fleas in the concentration camp that most people would find challenging. It have read Corrie's book, "The Hiding Place", and should probably read through it again.
Overall, this was a very encouraging read, ending with a very simple and uplifting message: "Suffering is real. But so is hope".
January 29, 2025
I picked up Tears and Tossings: Hope in the Waves of Life during a UK National Reading Month sale—honestly, I’m not sure I would have bought it at full price. But despite being a short read, it offers encouraging reflections for those facing life’s storms.
One key takeaway stood out to me: while we may hope for healing, God doesn’t owe us anything—we turned our backs on Him first. This isn’t a book filled with groundbreaking theology, but that’s not its purpose. Instead, Sarah Walton shares her personal journey through chronic illness, weaving in biblical truths to offer comfort and perspective.
That said, I found the focus on the author's struggles a bit overwhelming at times. If you’re dealing with chronic illness yourself, you might find solidarity in her story—or you might find it too much. The writing is simple and accessible, making it an easy audiobook listen while multitasking.
If you're looking for deep theological insights, this might not be for you. But if you want a faith-based perspective on suffering, you might find it worth checking out—especially since it's available in many American libraries, so you don’t have to commit to buying it.
One key takeaway stood out to me: while we may hope for healing, God doesn’t owe us anything—we turned our backs on Him first. This isn’t a book filled with groundbreaking theology, but that’s not its purpose. Instead, Sarah Walton shares her personal journey through chronic illness, weaving in biblical truths to offer comfort and perspective.
That said, I found the focus on the author's struggles a bit overwhelming at times. If you’re dealing with chronic illness yourself, you might find solidarity in her story—or you might find it too much. The writing is simple and accessible, making it an easy audiobook listen while multitasking.
If you're looking for deep theological insights, this might not be for you. But if you want a faith-based perspective on suffering, you might find it worth checking out—especially since it's available in many American libraries, so you don’t have to commit to buying it.
May 26, 2022
The author uses her personal experience of loss and suffering against a personal faith in Jesus Christ to help her readers find their steps for real hope. Whether circumstances change or get worse, God is near to comfort, provide tangible evidence of His love, and give us a path through the storms of life. God alone makes all the difference for peace and possibility for living loved and at peace, a hopeful, purposeful life.
December 19, 2024
I’ve read this book during a season of prolonged difficulty in my family’s life. Significant injury, chronic health issues, strain in many other aspects of our life… and the list goes on. The weariness runs deep. This small book was full of reminders and encouragements that left me more bolstered, standing a little bit taller, feeling a bit more resolved to continue on in this journey. “Suffering is real. But so is hope.”
September 9, 2022
This was a great little short read on suffering and the hope that Christ has to offer. I love how short and easy to consume it is. It is perfect for someone going through suffering to feel like they could actually finish. I also think that Sarah was the perfect author for this message and able to pass on wisdom gained through experience.
May 19, 2023
Started this a week after my dad passed away. I was expecting there to be more about loss but the author comes from a chronic illness perspective - it was good I just expected to relate to what I was reading more. Still good universal truths for suffering. I think it was just too soon for me probably
May 25, 2024
Quick, one-day read, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy topic, especially for those in the middle of life’s storms. I am probably twice the age of the author, but Sarah has experienced more storms in her young life than I, which lends credibility and authenticity to her gracious, thoughtful and encouraging words for readers like me.
August 4, 2022
So well written & a quick read. This little book is a must read for anyone (non-believer or believer) who is suffering from pain, loss or grief. Sarah clearly shows how we can have hope in our trials.
July 12, 2023
This is a lovely book, a lovely easy to read reminder that God is with us in our suffering. I would recommend this to newer Christians, or those who are struggling to believe that God is good as they live with illness or grief.
July 7, 2024
Short but encouraging. A story of hope through suffering. God shares in our pain and walks with us through it, while using our waiting and our suffering to grow us in hope and reliance on him. God is good and will never leave us.
July 6, 2025
A brief yet deeply encouraging read for anyone feeling lonely, grieving, overwhelmed by pain, waiting in uncertainty, battling fear, or burdened by shame. Suffering is real—but so is hope. And true hope is found in the person of Jesus.
October 27, 2025
This is a helpful, short book to give someone who is going through a difficult time. Clear on the gospel and nice short applications for different difficult seasons of life. Not all encompassing, but useful for entry level on the topic of suffering and trials.
September 25, 2022
A helpful little read. It felt directed at a smaller group or experience/felt a little personal but perhaps that was the intention. Easy to read.
November 8, 2022
Great little book. Will definitely pass along to others!
May 24, 2023
A great book on dealing with the trials of life from a Christian perspective. Short, and encouraging.
January 30, 2024
Great little book with deep truths giving purpose and hope through suffering.
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July 21, 2024Heart breaking but encouraging
August 10, 2024
A quick read so easy for anyone to read. Anyone and everyone should read this as we all experience grief in different areas. Hope and grief hold hands as they dance together. Do we want God more than an outcome of our circumstance?
May 24, 2025
Highly recommend for someone who struggles with why God is letting them suffer. It’s extremely short and is written by someone is open about their journey with pain and loss.
November 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
This book was very simple and basic. It would be a good gift to a new or nonbeliever who is suffering. It’s biblically sound.
This book was very simple and basic. It would be a good gift to a new or nonbeliever who is suffering. It’s biblically sound.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews