Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- December 3, 2010
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Life is a series of gains and losses. We gain friends and we lose friends. We gain confidence and we lose confidence. We gain money and we lose money. We gain a position and we lose a position. We gain weight and we lose weight. We gain perspective and we lose perspective. Many times during the transition between our loss and our gain, we grieve. Grief follows loss. But it’s in our grieving that God gets our attention.
Who or what do you miss? A loved one who graduated to heaven, a career that you enjoyed or a child who has left the nest and started their own family. Perhaps your heart still aches from time to time. Anger may well up occasionally or your mind plays tricks on you with “what if” scenarios, causing you to doubt your decisions. However, it’s in this contemplative process that we learn to listen to the Lord—trust Him—and be loved by Him.
There can be comfort from Christ during your grief from a loss. We all live in a house that contains rooms of mourning. We avoid these areas, but eventually we have to visit them. And we learn—the greater the grief—the greater the potential for gladness. God’s goodness becomes the glue for our fractured faith. Job experienced the Lord in his loss, “The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety” (Job 5:11).
Spiritual grief comes when we are separated from God by our sin, and we mourn over our broken fellowship. There is a godly sorrow that is sensitive to sin and quick to repent. Spiritual mourners lament when their sin isolates them from intimacy with Christ. So, do not linger long in grief over letting down the Lord—freely receive His forgiveness.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).
Lastly, look for those around you who silently suffer or who may be grieving unknowingly. Followers of Jesus sympathize by mourning with those who mourn. Take the time to come alongside them and offer care, comfort and Christ. Weep with those who weep, while the Lord’s love wipes away their tears. Jesus ministered to the grieving while on earth and He still comforts and makes hearts happy through the Holy Spirit.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26, KJV).
Is Christ my comfort during times of grief? Who can I comfort who is grieving a loss?
Related Readings: Nehemiah 1:1-10; Ecclesiastes 3:4; Acts 8:2; Romans 12:15
Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God
