Abiding at the Feet of Jesus | A Look at the BeatitudesMfano

Have you ever heard someone say, “I had a good cry and got it all out. I feel much better now” after experiencing some sort of emotional or physical grief? Most people feel better after letting out their hurt and frustrations through a healthy emotional release. The ability to move what is inside to the outside is absolutely essential for our emotional health, whether we understand it or not. God designed us this way.

Some of the most unhappy, hard-to-be-around people are the ones who have never given themselves permission to get outside what is going on in the inside. They are frustrated and bottled up. In other words, they fail to mourn. 

The essence of biblical mourning is an act of reflection, cleansing, healing, and expression. It allows us to reflect the image of God out of a pure and redeemed heart. 

Remember the setting where Jesus was preaching this message. The Jews who were listening felt inferior to the religious leaders, who seemed to have it all together. Many of those who were hearing this message wanted to jump in with both feet, but their shameful self-image would not allow them to take the next step—that is, until Jesus expounded some more.

Here the word “mourning,” in the original language, is penthos (PEN-thos) and is defined as an “external expression of an internal reality; an inner sorrow or condition that is outwardly demonstrated.” It is an inner sorrow or condition that is outwardly demonstrated. When you experience ptochos (brokenness), you step over the threshold into penthos (mourning).

Think of what happens when someone cries. As the tears flow, people can see on the outside what is happening on the inside. Whether they are tears of sorrow or gladness, their outside expression shows that something is happening on the inside of that person.

The irony is that some of the saddest people in the world are those who never mourn. The truth is that good Christians do get hurt, they do struggle, they do get scared, and sometimes they fall flat on their faces in sin. The beauty of this Beatitude is that we can be blessed if we learn to move our pain outward and release it to God.

When we enter into an attitude of spiritual poverty, our natural reaction is to mourn. This mourning can look different from person to person. Some of us turn to God and pour out our hearts to Him in thankful prayer. Some people make significant changes to their habits. For others, worship or acts of service are the way that they outwardly show that they understand their sin and what Jesus’ salvation means to them.

As we release to the outside what is going on inside, we will receive comfort, grace, and joy from God. It is vitally important to be completely open and honest so that we can confess sin and experience true godly sorrow. When we become mourners, we begin to recognize people around us who are mourning their sin and we can extend them a hand of comfort and grace. We can become a safe place for them to confess and repent. You will live out Romans 12:15, which tells us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn”.

Questions to Journal: 

1. What are some hindrances to mourning that you could identify (ex. pride, fear, condemnation, love of sin)?

2. How has this particular hindrance kept you from mourning your sin and finding grace and comfort in Christ?