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The Beatitudes: 2. Grief

The Beatitudes: 2. Grief

The Beatitudes: 2. Grief.

Please read Matthew 5:3-10.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (5:3).

You will sigh with satisfying relief when your heart is broken by the profound pain of loss, shame or sin. You are fortunate! You are not alone! For the deeper your sorrow, the more room there is for God’s healing presence and comforting grace.

The wisdom of Jesus is sometimes perplexing. In this Beatitude He is essentially saying “Happy are you when you are sad! Celebrate when you grieve!”

Those who mourn are grieving with tears of brokenness:

  • a sense of one’s own sinfulness in repentance and confession;
  • a painful awareness of the brokenness of the world, the soiled creation, the presence of sin in other people;
  • a grieving over someone else’s pain or difficulties;
  • lamenting over one’s own loss of something or someone dear.

Yes, there are many reasons for those tears. Those tears were called the “Second Baptism” in the early church. Those tears can be cleansing and the start of new life. In these tears one finds that the soul is in pain with an open wound. Sometimes the wounds of loss and sin are healed rather quickly. Most often the wound is deeper and only gradually is healed. But there is a promise here. God will bring comfort in the form of His presence. Being the “man of sorrows,” He loves to be gracious to those who grieve. He knows what it means to suffer loss and to grieve over sin.

When we are in painful circumstances like those mentioned, God promises that we are in a position to welcome the Lord and start the healing process. The deeper the grief, the more profoundly God will reveal Himself in your broken heart. So when you mourn, you are to be envied! You are now in a position to be comforted. As Robert Smith once said, “Tears is a language God understands.” We see clearly from Jesus that God fully identifies with those with a broken heart. The Lord will collect tears of brokenness as liquid prayers that reach to the throne of heaven. “Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness – Take it to the Lord in prayer!” (Joseph Scriven).

“Rivers of tears gush from my eyes, because people disobey your instructions.” (Ps. 119:136).

O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelemed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge…” (Ps. 61:1-2).

“He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.” (Isaiah 42:3)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Ps. 34:18).

“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go plant their seed, but they will sing as they return with the harvest.” (Ps. 126:5-6).

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.” (II Corinthians 1:3-4).

“His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5).