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A RECIPE FOR LIVING: THE BEATITUDES- CONTINUED
Lesson 4
by Lillian Bell
"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5: 4)
In the first of our Lord's Beatitudes we came to the realization that entrance into the kingdom of God is through the acknowledgement of one's spiritual poverty and acceptance of Christ's riches and resources. Now we are ready to consider the next Beatitude. "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted," (NLT); "Blessed are they that mourn: for they she be comforted," (KJV); "Happy are those who know what sorrow (sadness), mean, for they will be given courage and comfort," (EDL). The key word here is mourn - to feel or show grief or sorrow; esp. to grieve over a loved one.
Keep in mind that the Beatitudes must be viewed as a description of character and not as a code of ethics. Once you become a Christian you will begin to live the life of a Christian as taught to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, when he gave to us the Beatitudes. Apart from Christ we can't live the Beatitudes. Once we know Christ as a person, then we can fully live out His principles. "And he that keepeth his
commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us," (I John 3:24).
The word "mourn," has reference to more than just sorrowing over the death of a loved one; it includes all those experiences in life where we may feel crushed, broken or sorrowful. Or put it another way we can say; "Happy are those who know what sorrow means, for they will be given courage and comfort." Why should anyone who is caught
up in distressing and sorrowing experiences be congratulated? The answer is given at the end of the verse: "for they will be comforted." Having received comfort, we are better able to give comfort to others. Often the best person to give comfort is the one who has known the deepest hurts. For having gone through deep hurts ourselves allows us to have sensitivity to others and enrich our ministry in the body of Christ. One shouldn't ask God to deliver you from painful or sorrowful experiences - they are worth much, much more than they cost.
When we are willing to experience sorrow and grief, then God is able to use these encounters to sensitize our spirits and make our ministry to others more effective and more fruitful. "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God," (II Corinthians 1: 3-4).
Scripture tells us that God permits pressure for a purpose, and that sorrow and grief will produce tremendous benefits in our lives - providing we let them. Whenever Biblical principles don't seem to work for us, then don't question the principle - question whether or not you are open to it, and whether you are applying it in the way God directs. There is very little point in arguing with God. He is always right. "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold," (Job 23: 10). "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal," (II Corinthians 4: 17-18).
The Beatitudes contains the principles which enable us to experience good mental and spiritual health. Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Again, another way of putting it is: Congratulations to those who are willing to face and feel sorrow, for they will discover in and through the comfort that Jesus imparts to them a new joy. "Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me," (Psalm 51: 10-11).
A person who is mentally and spiritually healthy who is willing to face and feel sorrow, should recognize that it can be made to deepen one's life - not devastate it. Perhaps you have heard of the terms "neurotic" and "psychotic." A "neurotic" is someone who is afraid to face reality, while a "psychotic" is someone who is unaware of reality. Being afraid to face or feel negative emotions - grief, sorrow, etc., can cause one to be a stunted soul. "Search me, 0 God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting," (Psalm 139: 23-24).
Whenever we are unwilling to face a negative emotion, it implies that we are not in control of it, but that it is in control of us. Christians don't have to pretend that they feel joyful when they feel miserable. For we have a great High Priest who can sympathize with us in our weaknesses. For our Lord will offer us compassionate understanding. "For surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted," (Isaiah 53: 4).
When we are hurting or feeling sad or sorrow, we must take it to the Lord in prayer and ask him to help us handle our feelings in a way that glorifies and honours Him. We shouldn't dump our troubles off on someone else or break dishes or break windows, etc. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth," (Psalm 46: 1, 1O).
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When we are willing to go down into the hurt and feel it, then something glorious and transformative happens. We experience the loving comfort and compassion of our Lord. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Comforted by the Triune God. He comes alongside us in our pain, and through the comfort He pours into our beings, enable us to become more sensitive to Him, to ourselves, and to others. Remember that great sorrow leads to great happiness - and without the sorrow, there can be no genuine happiness.
(For references see previous lesson: A Recipe For Living: The Beatitudes)
