I guess it seems meaningless when they say this because you know. You know that it isn't anyone's fault. Deep down, you know that all things have a set measure of time, that everything except the Creator is finite and will come to an end. Whether it is an ant crawling on the ground, a bird building a nest in the tree, an elephant roaming the land with its might, a mole hidden underground, the fish below the surface of the sea - all shall live according to His decree and eventually come to an end. Whether it is the withering away of the leaves of a tree, or the growth of new shoots which sprout from its branches, this is all a reminder that this dunya is not permanent, that we come here, stay and then move on.
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things.
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving -
الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مِن تَفَاوُتٍ ۖ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ
[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any rifts?
[Surah al-Mulk, ayaat 1-3] SubhaanAllah. Remember sister, it is only after we have fallen to our knees that we rise back up and ground ourselves firmly on our feet, prepared to keep going. As for fluctuation in the strength of our faith, know that faith is centred in the heart, and the heart is called 'qalb' as its state is constantly in change. Know that if you keep your heart engulfed in the ocean of His remembrance at times of ease, so too will His remembrance run through every corner of it at times of difficulty. This is something that we must all work on constantly, for it is not just our laziness and procrastination that we have to battle with to seek nearness to Allah, but it is also the waswasah of the unrelenting opposer of mankind.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would often supplicate:
" "يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك
(O Controller of the hearts make my heart steadfast in Your religion).
Let each act of 'ibadah begin by you assessing its sincerity for He whose pleasure and rahmah you seek. Once the intention is affirmed, review yourself in comparison to His Majesty, His Magnamity, His Omnipotence - and this will alow khushoo' (humbleness) to settle in the heart. Then seek to perform the act of 'ibadah. This is advice to myself, first and foremost, but advice that I hope can inspire us all, if Allah wills it.
Ameen Ameen
Ameen. SubhaanAllah. Indeed, let the tears flow - for it is the tears brought forth from a sincere heart which nourish the soil of the soul and allow the growth of one's relationship with the Rabb.