Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 22, 2018
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4
My mother’s memorial service this past week was the saddest day of my life. The reality of my mom’s love began to settle in and stretch my soul. Her love was unique, never to be replaced fully by any human substitute. My mom was a single parent, so her love was even weightier, as she carried an expanded capacity to fill the void of a father. So I wept and mourned over my mother. My tears were a tribute to her love and how she raised me in an honorable way. Thankfully, I did not weep alone as teary hugs from friends and family dampened my cheeks and shoulders. Love and grief weep together to bring comfort and peace. Comforted sorrow expands my capacity to care.
Jesus offers up an incredible truth in His second teaching in the beatitudes. His first teaching defines humility as foundational to coming alive as a citizen in the kingdom of heaven. Next, Jesus instructs us to process our grief so we can be comforted. Sorrow is an every day occurrence in this world, requiring a comfort that originates in Christ and is lived out by His Body—fellow followers of Jesus. The comfort of Christ through other Christians gives us permission to freely process our grief. Like a soldier riddled with wounds and incapacitated requires the care of others, so a soul ravished by sorrow cannot heal itself without the comfort of love and kindness. If we resort to self reliance or denial, we miss the sole care of grieving and remain in discomfort.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
What sorrows lie deep on the bottom of the sea of your soul? What sorrows have you suppressed that cry out for comfort and grieving? Maybe abuse has robbed you of your dignity or the wound of a severed relationship still festers in anger and bitterness. Like a bad dream, you may relive a life altering experience you have never truly mourned while receiving the healing comfort and love of others. Like learning a new language, you may stumble with words to express your emotions, so let your tears do the talking. Bare your soul in a safe environment of other caring souls so you can be cared for and comforted. Dredge up sorrows deep in your soul, grieve them and be comforted, and you will grow your capacity to comfort others. God comforts you in all troubles.
Cry out to Christ, He cries with you. He is your joy in life and your Comforter in death. Jesus is your hope in your sickness and your strength in your sorrows. The Lord is your peace in your storm and your living water during your spiritual drought. God is your fortress of faith as you battle your fears, a refuge of acceptance when you suffer rejection. Christ is your life to bring into perfection His love within you. Mourn, be blessed and be comforted. God loves you.
“If we love one another God remains in us and His love is brought to perfection in us” (1 John 4:12).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me process my grief and be comforted by Your great love, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
With whom can I share my fears and hurts, so I might be comforted and healed?
Related Reading
2 Samuel 1:17-27; Isaiah 61:2-3; James 4:8-10; Revelation 7:17
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If we resort to self reliance or denial, we miss the medicine of grieving and remain in discomfort. #WisdomHunters #griefandcomfort
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