Prayer for Words

Mourning

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  — Matthew 5.3

I'm one who doesn't find comfort in people trying their best to make me feel better. Most of it seems like unnecessary platitudes than helpful actions, seeming as though a pithy phrase would help me overcome whatever I am mourning.

I do like to be reminded, though, of the things I should be focusing on. Something that takes me out of myself in that moment and gives a little bit of clarity in that moment and time. Sometimes the quick sayings may do this, but most often not so much.

Often times, though, I wallow in some sort of self-pity during times of mourning. The focus, all too often, lies on myself. The inner thoughts may not match the outward actions of helpfulness, but are there nonetheless. It is in mourning that I find it hard to see things outside of myself because things have happened to me.

So it's nice to see that there will be comfort for those who are mourning without mentioning how. Just the simple statement, “they will be comforted.” And I don't need a description of how. One of the things I love about finding help from someone else, whether it be a friend or someone I hired, is when that person says some variation of, “I got it.” I love when I feel like I don't have to worry about the particular problem because someone else is moving towards doing it.

I get that same feeling with this verse. That whenever I mourn, through whatever life throws my way and however negatively I react to it, the Lord is with me, sitting beside me, reminding me of the good things, of Himself. I don't need an explanation on how its done. All I know is that it is going to be done.

The same goes for everyone else. All of those in deep mourning find themselves close to the Kingdom of God if they choose to position themselves within that realm. Since Jesus was speaking to the disciples in this moment, the intent seems to be that these beatitudes are true for those who believe in him sure, but I wonder too if it includes those who don't know what to believe, who haven't found themselves continually fighting against the Holy Spirit but still don't know what to do next. I think God's grace flows more abundantly than we think when we try to silo God's love for humanity in this world.

So, mourning is inevitable in this world and it does us good to not fight against it because we know that Jesus is with us when we mourn, and it's good to be reminded of that when those times come.