CHRIST’S
SPECIAL BLESSING FOR MOURNERS
In His
“Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus Christ promoted a profound and powerful promise on
what appeared to be a preposterous and problematic premise: “Blessed are they that mourn,” he
declared. (Matthew 5:4) On the face of
it, this is somewhat of a paradox. How
on earth could it be possible for persons who are experiencing excruciating waves
of grief and mourning to be deemed by The Lord as “blessed?” The answer lies in the latter half of the
statement: “Blessed are they that mourn…for
they shall be comforted.”
Implicit
in Christ’s teaching is the fact that a
divine connection is always activated during our human occasions of
hurt, sorrow, pain and tears. While
present on earth, Jesus Christ had “borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” In his absence, he has pledged to summon the
Holy Spirit for our comfort and sustenance during our greatest moments of loss
and emotional need. (Isaiah 53:4 and John, chapter 14)
John
14:16-18
16 And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:
but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you.
This divine connection is the “blessing” that resides within the
mourning process. Jesus Christ made a crystal clear promise to every
mourner (and His Word is always true): “I
will come to you.” (John 14:18)
In
Psalm 56:8, we are assured by David that Almighty God bottles, records and
remembers all our tears. Therefore,
whenever we are crying, we are never experiencing sorrow alone. Although sometimes it feels that way, doesn’t
it? Strong impressions of doubt and
negativity bombard the minds of mourners who may feel terribly isolated or abandoned
by family, friends, and God, Himself. We
must recognize that this is a satanic assault, aggressively waged against our
emotional stability and peace for the express purpose of diminishing our faith
and increasing our pain. Admittedly, it
is easier said than done, but please don’t surrender to it and become a victim
of self-pity.
What
are some practical steps toward healing?
First
of all, remember that mourning is a
process. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
describes five stages of grieving: 1) denial, 2) anger, 3) bargaining, 4)
depression, and 5) acceptance. Please know
that it is entirely normal to experience each of these, but not necessarily in
that order or in an equal time frame for each stage. There is absolutely no shame in seeking
professional support and counseling to assist you through this process.
Secondly,
give yourself permission to cry and time to heal. While others may empathize with your
situation, it is impossible for them to completely understand the depth of your
personal pain. Avoid becoming angry with
their apparent insensitivity. Simply
pray for them. In so doing, your own
healing will be helped and your hurt alleviated.
Thirdly,
talk to God about your feelings.
Prevailing prayer is a powerful catharsis. In the presence of God, we are gradually
cleansed and eventually purged of overwhelming sorrow. Importantly, GOD fully comprehends the depth
of your personal pain and loss. And
there is no need for setting an appointment to confer with Him. At any hour, even while others are sleep and
you are wide awake and suffering, talk to
Him. HE never sleeps or slumbers.
HE promised to “preserve your soul [your heart, mind, or emotions].” (Psalm
121:3)
Fourthly,
identify at least one good friend who you can talk to face-to-face and share
your intimate feelings. A true friend is
“born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
Such a person will be there…to love you to life.
Fifthly,
immerse yourself in The Word for
the continual renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2 and Psalm 119:49-50) For your consideration, several comforting
passages of scripture are included below to aid you in the healing process: [Isaiah
53:4-6; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 23; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 73:26; Psalm
119:50; Matthew 11:28; John 16:33; Romans 8:18; Romans 15:4; Romans 15:13; I
Corinthians 10:13; I Corinthians 15:54-55; II Corinthians 1:3-4; Philippians
4:7; I Thessalonians 4:13; I Peter 5:6-7; Revelation 14:13; Revelation 21:4].
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