May 2026
Issue 242

When you need to cry, nothing else works as a substitute

I find nothing in the Bible to indicate that crying is a sin. In fact, several outstanding Bible people were brought to tears, and God's Word faithfully recorded it without condemnation. Every culture has its own rules about crying, but we are people of God and follow his leading.

If you never cry, there's something wrong. If you cry all the time, there's probably something wrong too. This month's article may help.

The ability to cry is a gift from God, an effective way to drain off sadness. I hope you'll take a few minutes to read, "When you need to cry…"

One you can count on

I cried and I cried
when my plans all fell through.
There was no other choice.
What else can you do?

But I learned a hard lesson
a long time ago.
So listen up, friend
'cause I want you to know.

Hope is a Person
who sticks by your side,
who gives you His power
when you give up your pride.

Hope is a Person
who wipes away tears,
who heals broken hearts,
who calms all your fears.

Hope is a Person
who cries when you do,
who lifts up your spirit,
who makes all things new.

Hope is the Savior
of the weary and lost,
who loves you so much
that he paid the great cost.

Hope is a Person
with heaven's reward,
the One you can count on,
your Friend and your Lord.

~ Jack Zavada, inspiration-for-singles.com, 2026 ~

Fed up with hurting? Here's what to do…

We can go on for years, cursing our situation but so afraid of the unknown that we stay in our rut. Eventually, though, some singles get fed up with hurting. They absolutely can't stand it any more and vow to step out in faith.

If that sounds like you, try this article. Hey, you don't have to change this very minute. Read it over. Think about it for a few weeks. Maybe even print it out and read it a couple times.

Change is hard. I recognize that. But when you're tired of crying and call on God for his help, he will give you the courage you need. You'll see.

How to figure out your life

Hope for Hurting Singles can change that. It cuts through the reasons for frustrating problems like loneliness, depression, anger, fear, shyness, rejection, and low self-esteem.

How does it do that? Over 40 years of trial-and-error. Yow! You don't want to go through that, but the good news is somebody already did it for you. Author Jack Zavada figured it out the hard way, by testing one method after another for all these troubles. Most of those tactics didn't work, but a few did.

What does that mean for you? You can learn all the things that don't work—so you can avoid them—then you can learn the solutions that do work, so you can apply them in your life right now.

Hope for Hurting Singles finally makes things clear. But there's more good news. These answers are solidly based on the Bible. Hope for Hurting Singles is not a self-help book; it's a God-help book, and that's what makes it powerful.

If you've been passing over these ads for years, you're still trying to break the code yourself. Stop, and let Jack lay it all out for you in steps you can put to use.

Hope for Hurting Singles is only $10.99 for the paperback or $3.99 for the Kindle edition. Get your copy today!

Tap into your hidden super power

Most singles don't. And if you don't know you have it, then you can't use it. But it's there, just waiting for you to tap into it to change your life.

Here's the secret: You have the power to interpret your life and what happens to you.

Most of the time, we default to knee-jerk reactions: anger, disappointment, shame. But we each have the power to see life from a different perspective, a radical rethinking of who we are and what we have.

Gratitude is your hidden super power, grossly underestimated because we employ it so rarely. This short article reveals how to turn your perception upside-down by simply tapping into the power of gratitude.

May QOTM: Buscaglia agrees

There seems to be two schools of thought about crying. One side believes it's vulgar or weak, and the other side believes it's healthy and honest. Buscaglia fell into that second group.

If we have the ability to cry, how should we use it? Some people give in to the urge easily while others fight it with all their might. Nothing else in our repertoire of emotions takes the place of a good cry. When it's over, you have a sense of exhaustion but also relief.

Some singles cry too often. Others don't cry enough. Both are signs this gift is not being used wisely. Don't be ashamed of crying, but don't use it to manipulate people. Use it as God intended: as a way to help you heal.

31 ways to be happier!

Huh?

In this article, you'll find 31 bite-sized tips on how to be happier—all f/ree. They come from people you've heard of, plus a few not-so-famous thinkers. I hand-picked them carefully so you'll find a lot of variety.

Enjoy yourself! You may even want to write some of these quotes down and stick them in your Bible or post them on Instagram: 31 Happiness Tips.

Was this issue a bummer or a blessing?

But there was another reason. I try to make every issue of Inspire-O-Gram an encouragement for you. I never want to scold you or bring you down. Even so, I have an obligation to be real, to tell you the truth about the single life, and sometimes crying is a necessary part of it.

I try to keep these newsletters practical, so you can take away some lesson or insight you can apply to your own situation. Above all, I want to stay true to the Bible. God recognizes there are times when his children need to cry. Sin has stained our world with disappointment. Crying really can help.

So don't let our increasingly cruel culture convince you crying is a sign of weakness or something you should be ashamed of. Yes, it's best done in the privacy of your home, but it's a proven way to release tension. And if Jesus did it, you're in safe territory.

A request for summer...

What's not so good is if we let our church attendance slide during the summer months. There's a real temptation to skip services.

For single folks, church is corporate worship, something we need in our solitary lives. We get together with like-minded believers and give the Lord praise and honor. And, a church's expenses go on all year round, so your church needs your donations.

God's love and help for you never take a vacation. Don't take a vacation from him. Keep going to church!

Help them with your prayers

If you're going through a tough time yourself, you can submit your prayer request through our secure Contact Form.. You're identified on the list by your first name only, ensuring privacy.

Here are the requests for May:

Natalie: Freedom from pride, anger, despondency, shame and depression.

Dawn: Peace, calm, direction.

Lisa: Physical healing for her brother.

Jenny: Emotional healing.

Cherlyn: Physical and emotional healing.

That concludes the May Inspire-O-Gram. I turned 75 years old this month, which certifies me as an official geezer. Thank God for giving me the privilege of serving Him! Thanks for reading, single friend. See you in June!

PS: Not a Christian yet? Find out how to become a Christian.