Think of the tears you have cried, every trouble or sickness you have been through, and every time you thought you would not make it. Just think, you are still here, and you made it through. Some have been through major heartbreaks or heart attacks and survived. I do not know what you have been through or what pain you have endured but I believe that your pain and suffering can be a source of much strength and good. You may ask, “How can suffering be a good thing?” It is not when you are going through it, and some people do not survive. However, those who have survived did not do it alone.
If you look back on your struggle you may find that someone encouraged you, pointed you in the direction of help, or helped you in some way or another. People who have been through something difficult know how to help people who are going through. These are the people who can tell you from experience that if you keep living, you will get through what you are going through. These are the people whose stories encourage us. These are the people who will tell you how they cried and how they cried out for help, even from God, and how help came unexpectedly, from unexpected people and unexpected places. It may be a mystery to us how this works, and I could tell you it is the way God works, but aside from that just look at the simple fact that many come through great pain, against great odds.
When we are disciplined for success it can never be our success alone. Whenever our victories over dark days are used to encourage those who are going through rough times, our former tears are not wasted.