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

This beatitude states that those who mourn are blessed. Mourning is to feel grief or sorrow mainly for sins or offences. This sorrow can also be caused by misfortunes such as loss of money and illness. In our Christian journey of faith, trials, conflicts, battles, and testing lie along the way and are to be counted not as misfortunes, but rather, as part of our necessary discipline. Often, we run from the purging and pruning, forgetting the Gardener knows that the deeper the cutting and trimming, the richer the cluster that grows. So, we should follow wherever He leads us, let the path be dreary or bright, for we know that our God can give comfort, our God can give songs in the night.

“who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor 1:4)

Comfort is not given to us when we are lighthearted and cheerful. We must travel the depths of emotion in order to experience comfort — one of God’s most precious gifts. And then we must be prepared to become coworkers with Him – to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Have you ever given comfort to those who mourn?

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Cor 7:10)

Godly sorrow is grief that comes from our awareness of our sins and shortcomings. Godly sorrow produces repentance, which leads to action, to obedience, and to salvation. The journey of faith is an endless struggle. Our enemies are the rulers of the world, and they are also the forces of evil in the spiritual realm. In this spiritual battle, we can be caught up in the lust of the flesh. We may fail to be watchful and therefore stumble, yet our God is gracious and full of mercy. He understands our weakness and will not reproach us or harbor anger against us forever. The sacrifices that God desires are not material, but rather a broken and contrite spirit. These our God will never despise!

Blessed are those who mourn!