Last week, we talked about being poor in spirit. This week, we continue with be-attitude #2, blessed are they that mourn. First, we enter into the kingdom of heaven by being poor in spirit, then we mourn. From there He says we’re blessed to be meek, to be merciful, to be pure in heart, to make peace, and finally, to be persecuted. It may seem natural for blessings to follow the meek, merciful, the pure in heart, and those who make peace, but first we must deal with a contradiction. The way to be happy is to be sad.

But what causes mourning?

We mourn when we lose a loved one.

This mourning, although followed by comfort, is not the one Jesus spoke of in His Address. It gives the believer hope that they will have a futuristic reunion with the departed loved one in the Lord.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which sleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

We have hope that our wonderful God will end all those things that now grieve our hearts, minds, and bodies. He has an answer for that kind of mourning.

“And God, shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

We mourn when we are disappointed.

People will let us down. They won’t always show up or do as they promised. Even those we love the most may not seem to come through.

“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” (John 11:32).

There are things in this life that will wear us down, repeated circumstances and concerns that cause us to become weary and full of sorrow. Like the Israelites traveling through the wilderness, we can become discouraged and mourn.

“…and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.” (Numbers 21:4)

Yet, Jesus said to bring this kind of weariness to Him. He will give us rest from our burdens and lighten our loads.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

We mourn over world conditions.

Many of us carry the weight of what is happening in America and around the globe. We grieve the escalation of our nation’s demise and that of others. We look forward to the day when God will make all things as they should be, as He intended. In fact, all of creation longs for that day.

“For we know that the whole of creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:22-23)

We mourn over our sins.

Jesus spoke of this type of mourning in his Inaugural Address. This is the kind of mourning that results in the greatest comfort. Let’s take a closer look at His promise of comfort.

There are two categories of sorrow. One guarantees eternal benefit and the other eternal destruction. One brings a change of mind that prompts repentance, and the other leaves a feeling of regret without remedy. We need not shy away from godly sorrow; it’s the kind that preserves life.

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (II Corinthians 7:10)

Mourning over our sin brings everlasting comfort. Happy are they who mourn over sin, for they shall receive forgiveness. God, in His mercy, forgives, cleanses, heals, and restores the person who grieves over his sin. Such a mourner is blessed!