Salty and Shiny - A Study of the Beatitudesናሙና

Blessed Are The Mournful 

The ones who mourn are promised that they will be comforted. 

We all experience grief. That’s a certainty since we live in a fallen world. In this time of history though it's common to gloss over grief and maybe even ignore it completely. It’s possible with distractions like social media, online shopping and food we could discount grief and pretend that it just doesn’t exist. This beatitude makes me realize that God doesn’t want us to stay numb or push our pain under the carpet. He wants us to mourn, which is some heavy-duty grieving! Have you grieved over that broken relationship, or the child who has left home without a word, or for that situation in your finances that is beyond repair or for the abuse you suffered? 

This beatitude reassures us that to grieve is necessary since it’s not a grief that falls on empty ears, but it is heard by our God and He promises to comfort us. 

God can handle our grief, our questions and even our anger. It’s in those dark moments of despair that He draws us closest to Him-if we allow it.

The beauty of the comfort that God gives is that our grief doesn’t define us anymore but only shapes us into the person He desires for us to be!

Mourning for ourselves is important but we must also allow ourselves to feel for the needs around us. The Bible records that there are several instances when the nation or its prophets have mourned their many sins and wickedness. We live in a world that is being overrun by corruption, hate, and evil. We, as those who love the Lord, must feel for the issues in our world and stop being complacent just because it hasn’t touched us. If we are to be Christ-like we must be able to weep with the hurting and do what we can to address their suffering.

Will you take time to open your wounds up to God today?  Nothing is too messy or too complicated or too uncomfortable for the God of all comfort. Would you allow yourself to feel for people and needs around you? You may just be the answer to someone’s prayers.