Freedom Calls

As children of the one true God, saved by the gift of Grace and Faith in Jesus Christ, we often find ourselves navigating the complexities of the human experience. 

In the midst of joy and sorrow, we are reminded of the profound words of our Lord Jesus Christ:

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4, NIV). 

The Paradox of Mourning

At first glance, the idea of mourning being a blessing may seem counterintuitive. We often associate mourning with sorrow, loss, and pain. However, as Spurgeon so eloquently puts it,

“The mourner is not blessed because of his sorrow, but because of the comfort that comes to him in the midst of his sorrow” (Spurgeon, “The Beatitudes”).

This comfort is not a superficial solace but a profound, soul-satisfying consolation that only God can provide.

The Mourning of Sin

One of the primary reasons we mourn is because of our sin. We recognize the gravity of our rebellion against a holy God and the devastating consequences it brings. 

As C.S. Lewis writes, 

“The fall is simply and solely the process of giving God’s truth a lie; of turning away from God’s good will to the creature’s will” (Lewis, “The Problem of Pain”). 

Our sin separates us from God, and this realization brings us to a place of mourning. However, in this mourning, we find the comfort of God’s forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ.

The Mourning of Loss

Another reason we mourn is because of loss – the loss of loved ones, the loss of innocence, or the loss of our sense of security. A.W. Tozer reminds us that

“the Christian is not exempt from the pains and sorrows of the world. He is, however, exempt from their sting” (Tozer, “The Pursuit of God”).

In the midst of our loss, we find comfort in the promise of eternal life and the hope of being reunited with our loved ones in heaven.

The Mourning of Self

Watchman Nee writes,

“The greatest sorrow is not the sorrow of circumstances, but the sorrow of self” (Nee, “The Normal Christian Life”).

We mourn because of our own inadequacies, our own failures, and our own limitations. However, in this mourning, we find the comfort of God’s sufficiency and the promise that He will complete the good work He has started in us (Philippians 1:6).

The Comfort of God

The comfort that Jesus promises to those who mourn is not a fleeting sentiment but a profound, eternal reality. D.L. Moody writes,

“The comfort of God is not a mere feeling, but a fact – a fact that has been proved by the experiences of countless saints” (Moody, “The Way to God”).

This comfort is rooted in the character of God Himself, who is the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).

The beatitude “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” is a profound reminder of the complexities of the human experience. We mourn because of our sin, our loss, and our own inadequacies.

However, in this mourning, we find the comfort of God’s forgiveness, redemption, and sufficiency. May we, as children of the one true God, saved by Grace and Faith in Jesus Christ, find solace in the promise of eternal comfort and may we, in turn, comfort others with the comfort we have received from God.

Scripture References

Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

2 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV)

Supporting Quotes

Spurgeon, C.H. “The Beatitudes”

Lewis, C.S. “The Problem of Pain”

Tozer, A.W. “The Pursuit of God”

Nee, W. “The Normal Christian Life”

Moody, D.L. “The Way to God”