god is close to those who mourn

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn For They Shall Be Comforted is taken from Matthew 5:4. Here are three: Through the fulfillment of God’s plan, those who mourn “shall be comforted.”. The natural inclination is to look at mourning as an emotional state to be avoided at all costs and instead to party and revel in the pleasure of the moment. 3. All rights reserved. All rights reserved worldwide. Many biblical heroes cried, the most notable of whom was Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:3; John 11:35). Those are the times I understand that we who mourn are truly blessed. While there are certainly times for mourning, there are also times for joy (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4). Question: "What does ‘blessed are those who mourn’ mean?" God is love, and He doesn’t want anyone to suffer with sadness or sorrow. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. MARILYN WASHBURN is a teaching elder in the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and a family physician currently practicing in a hospice. I pray that these Bible verses will bring you comfort and encouragement today. "It means blessed are those who are lonely, they will be comforted by God," says Marshall, 9. He also studied theology at Foundation Institute, Center for Biblical Education, in Allen, Texas and graduated with a certificate in biblical studies in May 2017. (Psalm 51:17 ESV) All that God has wanted was for people to recognize their sinfulness (poor in spirit) and then mourn over those sins. Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to your inbox. Psalm 119:151. Verse 4 says, "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Regret for sin’s consequences is not the same as sorrow for sinning against holy God. God wants people to be sensitive to the suffering, pain and torment caused by sin (our own or others’) and to be compassionate to those grieving the loss of loved ones. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. A sober, mourning heart will number its days, keeping in mind that this physical life isn’t eternal (Psalm 90:12). 2. Everything we get sad about is a result of some kind of sin. A Prayer for Loss of a Friend. And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Romans 5:12 says, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned." We've been exploring what it means to be part of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, starting with Jesus' descriptions of its citizens, including those who are "poor in spirit." It is important to remember that this portion of Jesus’ teaching was directed toward His closest friends, not the general population (verse 2). It is a comfort to remember them and to celebrate God’s goodness with their loved ones and a joy to join them in God’s presence. Gain a concise, fundamental grasp of what the Bible is all about with our NEW "Know the Bible" series. Psalm 34:18 (NLT) ... (NLT) God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Today Father, as I grieve for the loss of my friend, I find comfort in the … It does not seem as if mourning would be the way to achieve happiness and comfort. Lean on God and allow Him to continue the … A balanced life will have both—at the appropriate times. Comfort – Calling Near. Those who mourn and weep over their sin are in a position to repent (Luke 4:18-19). Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better. For more on what the Bible says, read “Crying: What the Bible Says” and “Godly Sorrow.”. Friends of our God, though they may pass away, Will never be forsaken. Mourning is deep sadness, and it may even include tears. Let us remember it is Jesus Christ that gives us eternal life to those who believe in Him. Calling all HuffPost superfans! God’s call is simple: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Rom 12:15, NIV). The second of the Beatitudes is, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). This enables self-examination and more spiritual growth. This balance between joy and mourning leads to the self-reflection and awareness that is necessary for the next of the Beatitudes: meekness. Our instinct when someone close to us is going through hard times is to offer words of comfort and hope; but sometimes, all we can do is mourn with them. But feeling the effects of that world—experiencing grief, sorrow and mourning—can be devastating. In fact, I’m convinced that Jesus believes God is especially real precisely to those able to mourn. The sting of … Some days are so hard and I don’t know how I’ll make it through. The Bible says that those who grieve over their sin will draw near to God (James 4:8-10). Or, “Happy are the unhappy.” The word “mourn” that Jesus used is the most severe of all nine Greek words used for grief in Scripture. Blessed are those who mourn… June 17/18, 2017. Darkness […] [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Christians have at least three things that cause them to mourn—that touch their hearts to such an extent that they sorrow and may be brought to tears. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). And sometimes those eyes will be filled with tears. Considering all this, we can see why Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Stay close by my side, O Lord, and put the pieces of my broken heart back together. And so Jesus addressed mourning in the second of His Beatitudes. Matt 5:6). For he will have a longing For the work of his own hand. (Psalm 34:18) It is natural to mourn the loss of a loved one with death being an unfortunate part of our fallen world. Never miss a post! Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts and updates. You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version (© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). God will comfort those who turn to Him. So have faith, and do not wonder, For our God can make us stand. Once someone reaches that point, then he or she is capable of looking at everything with a new set of eyes. New International Version (NIV). Download. Mt 5:4 Of all the beatitudes, this is one of the most difficult. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. God has a fabulous plan that will allow everyone who is willing to repent and be saved. It is his nature to be near those who are suffering. The Lord will wrap His arms of love and comfort around those who trust in Him. Answer: Matthew 5 records the part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount known as the Beatitudes. Among them was King Solomon, the wise and wealthy king who had every physical thing he could ever want. I think Jesus is saying blessed are you who mourn about sin. The Greek word for ‘comforted’ is ‘parakaleo’ which means ‘to call to the side of’, or ‘to call near’. The comfort, which God offers, is not just consoling or soothing, it is much more than that. Joshua Travers grew up and lives in Athens, Ohio. What Is the Narrow Gate Jesus Talked About. The first Beatitude addressed being poor in spirit—recognizing our own weakness compared to God’s greatness and realizing our dependence on Him. You can find an overview of all the Beatitudes and links to them in our article “Beatitudes: Keys to Real Happiness.”. God blesses those who mourn, and many times this divine favor is manifest through both being delivered from sin and the fostering of righteousness (cf. He is talking about those who understand what sin does to us. But every tear you shed in faith — shattered but trusting, gutted but believing — has this banner hanging over it: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.(A). Scripture, Purpose Of Nearness To God. But looking back on his life, he said, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. This one hits close to home for the many who have faced some kind of loss. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57. Listen how God declared this … Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah was anointed “to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:2-3). This plan included the sacrifice and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ (Revelation 13:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The Bible tells us that God will comfort those who grieve, as "the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Where, O death, is your sting?" God doesn’t want people to sit in dark rooms and mourn continually from dawn to dusk. Used by permission. God came down, but His face was never seen. (Psalm 51:10,17) When we mourn evil in ourselves or in the world around us, we are close to the heart of God. When God’s Spirit convicts us of sin (James 4:8-10 James 4:8-10 [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. 15 He goes on to say: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." How Should a Christian Deal With the Coronavirus Pandemic? He graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in social studies and Spanish education from Ohio University. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 Don’t miss the word “blessing,” that is repeated here, and over and over, in the Beatitudes. He wants to give us eternal life without any more mourning. God's Word Is True Scripture, Inerrancy Of Closeness. The people were kept at a distance. If you’re mourning or dealing with a loss of any kind, take courage – God is present and wants to comfort you. you, God, will not despise. When God does this in our lives or others, we experience his comfort. And we will live forever, As the work of his own hand. There are multiple aspects of that plan that serve to comfort followers of Christ even now as they go through mourning. Instead, most people imagine that the source of happiness would involve lots of physical pleasure and fun—perhaps drinking, partying, drugs, gambling, sex, etc. Here are 15 verses to help guide you in weeping with those who weep. Proverbs 25:20 expresses a similar principle, but with rich imagery: "Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart” (NIV). When troubles seem to surround us on every side. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted…(Matthew 5:4) God never intended for us to be happy all the time. Supporting this belief, The Message paraphrases our verse: NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Luke, Comfort Print, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Personal Size, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow God’s Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture. Access the NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible when you upgrade to Bible Gateway Plus. Now that we have examined the Beatitude, let’s consider why it is difficult for us to implement this trait and how we may do so anyway. When someone experiences chronic illness. God has little patience when we weep in misery over the idols he removes from us, as when Israel preferred Egypt’s meat to God’s presence (Numbers 11:4–10). I thank You for the promises laid out in Your Word. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Back in 1978, I spoke in Aspen, Colorado to a gathering of InterVarsity students and people off the street. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth” (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4). At the end of my talk, one of the students asked a very common question. It is reserved for mourning the dead. A close relationship with God can yield more joy than some think possible (Psalm 16:11; 1 Peter 1:8). Mourning enables people to look at life more soberly—in a way that invites change and causes growth. At other times, crying can also signify a repentant heart full of sorrow after recognizing the severity of our sin (Matthew 26:75). The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. They can show a tender and caring heart that hurts with others and knows pain. When we read, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4), we tend to think about times of sadness and grief. Turn his eyes toward You and help him to seek You. This Beatitude touches the heart and soul of what it is to be a Christian. God’s way, once internalized, gives a sense of inner peace that no amount of trials can overcome (Philippians 4:6-7). He listens for our cries. So the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here. This is what so many have tried to do. “If Your Right Eye Causes You to Sin, Pluck It Out”: What Did Jesus Mean? The second of the Beatitudes is, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Try it free for 30 days! Mourning, whether in repentance or out of compassion or loss, can lead to inner reflection. There cannot be repentance without the realization of the gravity of sin. This Beatitude touches the heart and soul of what it is to be a Christian. You love us and You sent Your Son to die so that we can have an eternal relationship with You. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Thankfully, after all of this mourning that a Christian faces, there is comfort. …In this world you will have trouble… (John 16:33) God mourns for the same things. And this verse certainly applies in principle to all who mourn. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan. In the Old Testament God’s people gathered at Mount Sinai. For a Christian, godly joy doesn’t come from outer circumstances. Verse Concepts. It’s bad enough realizing that the world is a sad place. Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe, Article URL: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/christian-conversion/the-sermon-on-the-mount/beatitudes/mourn/. (Read more about the good news of God’s plan, which gives hope to all, in our articles “Hope in Christ,” “Our Future Hope” and “Hope for the Hopeless.”). Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). What exactly does Christian mourning look like? In this way, those who mourn are truly blessed, in spite of what many think (Luke 6:21, 25; James 4:8-10). Instead, the joy comes from knowing God and His way of life. "Where, O death, is your victory? They will live at his command. Christians have at least three things that cause them to mourn—that touch their hearts to such an extent that they sorrow and may be brought to tears. When a loved one dies. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. God comes close to us as we mourn and weep. Tears do not have to be a sign of weakness. Prayer for Closeness to God Creator God, You are near to us and will draw closer to those who draw close to You. Prayer for Those Who Mourn O Lord, my God, I cry out to you in my grief. I pray for my friend who is mourning. A fruit of His Spirit is joy (Galatians 5:22). 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