A very
severe and tragic event in US history was the forced relocation of thousands of
Native Americans in the early 19th century. Native American tribes, who had
struck treaties with and fought alongside the burgeoning white population, were
driven out of their ancestral lands. In the winter of 1838, thousands of
Cherokee were forced to embark on a brutal 1,000-mile march westward known as
The Trail of Tears. This injustice resulted in the deaths of thousands of
people, many of whom had little or no clothing, shoes, or supplies for such a
journey.
The world
continues to be filled with injustice, pain, and heartache. And many today may
feel as if they are leaving a trail of tears—tears that go unnoticed and grief
that is not comforted. But our Lord sees our tears and comforts our weary
hearts (2 Cor. 1:3-5). He also declares the hope of a future time not marked by
the stains of sin or injustice. In that day and in that place, “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”
(Rev. 21:4).
The God who offers freedom from tears in the future is the only One who can fully comfort our tears now.
