There are many things in the world that can cause us to mourn.  We may mourn over the way our society seems to be shifting away from Jesus.  We may mourn because our nation seems so divided.  We may mourn over the destructive choices a friend or family member are making.  And, we may mourn over the death of a loved one.

Jesus said in His sermon on the mount that those who mourn are blessed.  Wait…what?  How is it a blessing to mourn?  Mourning comes from a sense of loss, a sense that something isn’t right.  This awareness is a blessing because it makes us long for what is right.  But this blessing not so much that mourning is great, but rather that God blesses those who mourn with comfort and His comfort is great.  God gives us a comfort that we cannot find from the world and He does so in many different ways.

One way God comforts us is through His Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is also called, “The Comforter”.  He comforts us when no one else can, restoring us and giving us strength.  God also gives us comfort through the church.  We were not meant to live our lives alone.  God provides the church as a place where we can encourage each other, mourn with each other, and comfort each other.

The biggest way God comforts us, though, is through the hope we have in Christ Jesus.  When we mourn someone destroying their life and the lives of others, we know there is redemption and healing found in Jesus.  When we mourn that so much going wrong in the world, we know there will be a day when sickness and sin are gone and our tears are wiped away.  When we mourn our own sinfulness, we know there is forgiveness and grace.  When we mourn the loss of a loved one who died in the faith, we know that Jesus conquered death and brings eternal life.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 tells us that we do not mourn as those without hope.  Even in our mourning, we know the hope we have in Jesus and we receive His comfort.  What a blessing!

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for the hope You give us.  Surely You have borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.  Be with us when we mourn.  Send the comforter, Your Holy Spirit.  Send Your people to be with us.  Remind us of Your promises.  We are truly blessed.

Amen.

God bless,

Pastor Kurt