On that hillside along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus continued to teach the multitudes about the “blessed life” that each of them could possess. He said that in addition to having a humble spirit as we saw last week (Mt. 5:3), they also needed to “mourn” or “grieve” (Mt. 5:4). Surely, Jesus wasn’t expecting His followers to go around each day in mourning, displaying a sad and dejected face for all to witness. No, He had something else in mind. 

We all know people who show virtually no emotion, displaying neither joy nor sorrow. They are stoic in their demeanor, rarely laughing nor shedding a tear. They seem to be incapable of feeling much of anything. They are the “doers” who can accomplish monumental tasks but who feel little along the path of life. Such a display of “sternness” sends the message that they just don’t care much about anything. Unfeeling and uncaring, this person has no room for mourning. Worst of all, while this person does not seem to be affected by the tragedies unfolding around him, he also distances himself from feeling the pain of others. In short, this person lacks a heart of compassion, which was one of Jesus’ own qualities most mentioned by the Gospel writers.

Did you know that God also grieves? The Bible says that God “grieved” over what had become of humanity before the Flood in the days of Noah. Jesus “grieved” when He saw the despair in people’s eyes over the death of Lazarus (whom Jesus later rose from the dead). The disciples “grieved” over Jesus’ death. And the Apostle Paul encouraged those members of the church in Thessalonica who were “grieving” the loss of their loved ones. Let’s face it, most of us grieve after losing someone whom we love; we grieve over the destruction that cancer inflicts upon people, young and old alike; we grieve over natural disasters that claim the lives of thousands; we grieve over mass shootings, or even a single murder; and we grieve over the systematic extermination of people in some parts of the world due to their ethnic or religious heritage.  

But while grieving over painful circumstances seems natural, few of us “grieve” over things relating to our own self. I suspect that we have all made some poor choices in life that caused pain in the lives of others, as well as ourselves. That is surely a reason to “mourn.” We should all look at our lives and “mourn” over the years that we have failed to make any positive difference in the world. I suspect we should also look at our lives and “mourn” over our own lack of faith to trust God when He asked us to. And if we are really honest with ourselves, having a persistent unrepentant heart should cause all of us to “mourn.” Why? Because “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). As for me, I can’t imagine living a life in which God is “opposing” me because of a stubborn and hardened heart.  

A heart that “mourns” is a tender and compassionate heart. These are the ones who care deeply about the tragedies in the world as well as for those who are living through them. Jesus said that those who “mourn” are “blessed” because if they do, “they will be comforted.” And that comfort from God generally comes from two sources: 1) The Word of God, the Bible, as we read of God’s character and the promises He has made to us; and 2) The Holy Spirit, often referred to as the Comforter, who lives within each of His adopted children. Surely, reading God’s Word and having the Holy Spirit dwell within us are the most important sources of comfort from God. But there is more.

I suspect that most of us are blessed to have others who have come to comfort us in time of need. And I also suspect that most of them feel drawn to do this because they have known what it is to be “comforted by God,” and have been moved to show that same comfort to others (2 Cor. 3-5). That should be true for anyone who has received God’s comfort through His Word or through the Holy Spirit. God calls each of us to comfort others with that same comfort that we have received from Him. These are the people who have “mourned” losses, and in return have experienced God’s comfort. These are the people who have decided to “cast all of their cares upon the Lord” because they know that “He cares for them” (1 Pet. 5:7). And these are the ones who, because of their own healing in times of loss, reach out to comfort others just as God has comforted them. 

Three thousand years ago, King David said that God loves “…a broken and contrite heart” (Ps. 51:17). So, if you want to live a “blessed life,” then ask God to give you such a heart, a heart that is tender and compassionate. This is a heart that will not only “mourn” over the things in life that really matter, but also move you to comfort others in their time of “mourning.” Those with such a heart will know what it means to live a “blessed life.”