Blessed Are They Who Mourn

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”.
Matthew 5:4

What causes the children of God to mourn? Sin. We mourn over sin. It is the desire of every believer to walk in a worthy manner before our God. Yet because of the corruption in our flesh in thought, word, and deed we fail Him daily. We mourn over the fact that we have indwelling sin that is always working against us, and we readily agree with the Apostle Paul who wrote, “I know that in my flesh dwells no good thing.”

Not only do we mourn over our own sin, but we mourn over the sin of our children, our families, and our friends. We want the best for our loved ones. It grieves us to think they are indifferent to the precious Gospel and have no saving interest in Christ. As we see the violence, evil and rampant perversions all around us, we mourn over the sin of this world.

Still many believers mourn over the loss and distancing of family and friends for the sake of the Gospel. People once close to us start distancing themselves from us because the Gospel is our prime concern and not the things of this world. There are many reasons to mourn, yet, God’s people shall be comforted!

But there is a balm in Gilead! The people of God are comforted by the God of all comfort. The Spirit of God is our great Comforter. We are comforted by the Prince of Peace, by whose mighty power sin, death, hell, and the grave have been conquered! We are comforted by the truth of the Gospel as it reveals the only hope of our salvation.

We may fail, falter, and fall but our God will hold us fast and never let us go. As a loving Father He chastens those whom He loves. Yet He is always ready to forgive and restore. We have great confidence in the Savior because He has satisfied the law and justice of God on our behalf. We are no longer under the curse and condemnation of it. The love of God will never fail His people, and we will never be separated from His love. All the blessings of love, grace, and mercy motivate our hearts to action to serve Him as willing bond-slaves, doing good works and preaching before men that God may be pleased to call others to Himself.

We may be afflicted in every way. But we are not crushed. We may be perplexed, but not driven to despair. All day long we may be persecuted. But we are not forsaken. Still others may be struck down. But we are not destroyed. Mourning may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. The only hope and eternal comfort in this world for those who rejoice or for those who mourn is Christ!

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Soli Deo Gloria

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Greg Flannery teaches the Bible at Redeemer Church of Piketon, Ohio.