In the middle of a semester, the “light at the end of the tunnel” can feel more like a mirage than a tangible destination. But Galatians 6:9 exhorts us not to “grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (NKJV). Our last Inkwell issue explored the weathering of resistance against our writers’ endeavors. Now we’re celebrating the excitement of finally breaking “out of the woods”—and what better way to kick off this literary “leap forward” than by releasing a sneak peek of our upcoming issue, “Breakthrough”!

This creative nonfiction piece, “A Time to Weep” by staff writer Zachary Smith, draws its title from the familiar passage in Ecclesiastes 3, where the author asserts that “to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (v. 1). Zachary shares in his essay the account of Jesus at Lazarus’s tomb, wherein John takes up an entire verse to mention that the Son of God Himself wept from sorrow (Jn. 11:35). If the Creator of the universe shares with us in our grief, how understanding He must be toward His sorrowing or overwhelmed children! We hope you enjoy Zachary’s personal narrative exploring the acceptableness of our tears—times when it is fully appropriate to break down.

A Time to Weep
Desert-grimed sandals stop a few feet away from her. The dark-haired owner of the sandals looks at her. He loves her. Questions and hurts reverberate inside her. They don’t fade, but only intensify. Vulgar, unsolicited criticisms awake from hibernation. He isn’t physically attractive. Though in hi…