Those Who Mourn

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(Mat 5:4 KJ2000)


Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  It sounds like one of the paradoxes of the Bible.  How can mourning be a blessing?

Perhaps it depends upon what you are mourning for:

Most of the scholars of the Bible will quickly point out to you that Christians are commanded to mourn—to have "godly sorrow" - for their sins.  This is a step in the process of repentance.  It is to recognize that you have done wrong, and feel genuinely sorry that you did.  All of us are familiar with the "I'm sorry" of a small child, who is usually sorry that he got caught.  This is the sorrow of one who means it.  It is an art that needs practice!  But consider what happens when you do it.  God, the Almighty, the Just Judge, hears your advocate in heaven, Jesus the Christ, and agrees with his plea for mercy toward you.  Think about it this way:  how do you feel when the traffic cop says, "I'm going to let you off with a warning this time?"  God's comfort is even greater.  In Him you are completely forgiven.

Sometimes we mourn for our circumstances.  We consider our lot in life and say, "Poor me!"  So often when this happens it drives us to our knees in prayer and back to God.  But this is good!  If I could sell you a magic potion that would bring you closer to God, it would be worth a fortune.  But it seems that your troubles already are doing this, at no charge.  Take those troubles to him in prayer, and receive the sweet comfort only God can give.

The word "mourning" is often associated with death.  We say that someone is "in mourning" for the loss of a loved one.  But even here there is comfort from God.  If this loved one trusted the Lord Jesus Christ, you have the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the dead—and what a grand and glorious day that will be!

Mourning has the virtue that it drives out all other emotions, and keeps us from much that is sinful.  It is the starting point of self-denial.  It is also a method of getting clear touch with reality.  As often as we deceive ourselves about sin, circumstance and death, mourning is our friend to bring us back to a clear view of the truth.  To this our Lord adds the blessing of God, that you might know that he works all things together for the good of his children.