Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 202 – Matthew 5:4 – Those Who Mourn – Growing As Disciples
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
Mourning
What do you know about mourning? That is an interesting question. I’m not exactly sure how to answer that question. I have experienced pain and suffering and loss. Of that, I am very sure. Have others experienced greater pain and suffering and loss and mourning than I? Yes, I suppose that is true. Is my share of pain and suffering and loss yet to arrive? That may be true. At one time, I thought I liked change. I’m not so sure anymore. Change has brought its own grief and sadness. I have mourned the loss of what once was and is no more, nor can ever be again. My youth is gone. I mourn that. Friends and family are gone. I mourn that. Past roles and responsibilities are gone. I mourn that. I even mourn my weaknesses and failings and sin. Maybe “even”, is the wrong word. I especially mourn my weaknesses and failing and sins. Sometimes, I ask, “Why is there so much pain and suffering and loss and mourning in this life?” The only answer I have to that question is that this is a sin broken life. I mourn that too.
What has happened to you in your mourning? Has nothing good come from out of your mourning? Much good has come to me in my mourning. In my mourning, I have cried out to you. My mourning has formed many of my prayers to you. Those prayers have not gone unheard and unanswered. You have drawn near to me as I have mourned. You have mourned when I have mourned. You have comforted me in my mourning. Had I never mourned I would have never need comforting. Had I never been comforted I would have never known your love and care for me. Had I never mourned my weaknesses and failing and sins, I would have never confessed them to you. Had I never confessed my sins and received your forgiveness and cleansing, I would have never come to know you. I tell you what. What? I would much rather mourn. That’s good. Out of my mourning you have richly blessed my life. That is true.
What has your mourning taught you? My mourning has taught me that you love and care for me. My mourning has taught me that a better life awaits me. One day, I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Then there will be no sickness and sadness and suffering and loss. There will be no mourning when I am in heaven with you. My mourning has taught me to look to you now and to remember that I have a future forever in heaven with you. Yes, you do. That is very good. Yes, it is.
Lord, you have never left me alone in my mourning. You come alongside me to comfort me. You have drawn me close to you and held on to me. You bandaged my wounds and healed my broken heart. You have lifted me up and kept me moving forward with you. Amen
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