What do you do typically when you feel down? When you have had a tough day, what helps you get through? Most of us have go-to actions when things don’t go as planned. Some of us sit on the couch and eat a half gallon of ice cream. Some of us go for a long drive. Some of us just sit and cry. But we all do something. Often it comes with guilt or shame because we weren’t big enough to stand against whatever Goliath stood before us that particular day.
But then Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” So what does that mean?
Well, in our world today, there are plenty of things to mourn. We just emerged from a pandemic that took away many of the people we love and care for. Some of us lost our jobs during that time which led to losing our possessions. We have a political system that is tearing our country in half. Crime is rampant. Racism seems alive and well. The list goes on for things we mourn.
Some of us try to avoid the spirit of mourning. In doing so, we invite other emotions into our life that hurt and hinder our growth and progress. When we don’t mourn, two emotions typically emerge: anger and anxiety.
But in the middle of all the frustration and mourning, Jesus says we’ll be blessed because we’ll be comforted. I think there are three reasons mourning really reveals God is working and comforting. When we mourn our personal brokenness and sin, God has the opportunity to mend us and remind us that no matter our personal struggles, He has not left us nor abandoned us. He loves us incredibly.
When we mourn over the brokenness of our world, we are reminded in the mess and darkness, there is a light at work called Jesus Christ. As we look at hunger and genocide, racism and unrest. As we see poverty and sickness, we are reminded this world is temporary and Jesus is making all things new.
That knowledge brings a growth in our compassionate response to the brokenness around us. See, Jesus’ life gives us the example of compassion that we are called to live out every day. We want to walk closely with the Master and adopt his example of compassion and love for the world around us.
So mourn as followers of Christ because He’ll give us the comfort needed. Realize your need for a Savior and walk closely with him. Know Jesus is working in the world around us and join him in the story of redeeming compassion. May the dust of our rabbi, Jesus, settle upon you as you journey. Blessings on your journey.