Mourning

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

IS JESUS TALKING about people who have suffered great losses here? Or is there something deeper?

Surely, Jesus spoke to the hurting hearts of so many who have lost possessions, homes, and loved ones. But another possible meaning of the verse above might refer to those who look at their lives and mourn over their failures, mistakes, and sins, then repent before God, asking for forgiveness and redemption.

When Josie looked at her life one day, she realized how full of mistakes and sins it was. She had wronged so many people, including her husband and children. She mourned deeply, thinking of all she had done. But it was with joy that she found God’s forgiveness. As she went to each of those she’d wronged, she found they forgave her, too, and offered her words of encouragement. In the process, she found the promise above to be true: she was comforted as a result of her mourning over her sin.

To those who repent and mourn over sin, God promises to give real comfort. Think about the last time you sinned and felt so guilty, wishing you hadn’t sinned at all. That’s mourning when you go to God, admit those sins, and ask for his forgiveness and help. God will not only wipe away the sin but give you comfort and strength that will help you not to commit the same sins again.