Blessed Are Those Who Mourn?

INTRO: Can tears of joy and tears of sadness flow from our eyes at the same time? The last thing we want to hear when we are deeply mourning is “Cheer up, it will be all right.” Where is the happiness in mourning? Does Jesus only bless us when we are mourning? Who comforts the poor people of the world? This beatitude doesn’t make sense. What did Jesus mean when He told His disciples and followers this? This poem is based on the second of The Beatitudes found in the Bible in Matthew 5:4.

PODCAST – Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Conceit, arrogance, stubbornness

“I’m not that bad.” “I’m good enough.”

“I don’t need to grovel to God

For His help, mercy, and grace.”

Procrastination

Putting off confessing

Shallow thinking, trivializing.

Like King David with Bathsheba

When he tried to hide his sin

His body groaned in pain day and night

For God’s hand pressed heavily upon him.

Alone, Peter wept bitterly

Over his sin of denying Jesus

While Jesus cooked him breakfast

He restored Peter to love and service.

When the prodigal son repented

His father raced to forgive him

And welcomed him back into the family

It was as if he had never left.

A love of sin hardens our heart

Hinders God’s blessings for us

Minimizes God’s power and grace

From working in our lives.

A time of mourning demands

That we turn off frivolity

The stupid silliness of the world

And take a serious look at life.

Be quick to see and face our sin

Pray for strength to turn from it

Receive God’s joy and forgiveness

His grace, mercy, and strength.

Mourning over our sinful state

Leads us to repentance

Repentance to salvation

Salvation to life everlasting.

Jacob mourned, for Joseph was gone

His brothers had lied to cover their crime

His vitality drained like a summer drought

Until Joseph was, again, reunited with him.

Paul, locked away in a prison cell

Deserted by most, waiting for death

Longed to see Timothy his dear friend

And feel the joy of their friendship again.

The sorrow of loneliness

Separation from loved ones

Through death, divorce, or indifference.

Tears of loss

Tears of guilt

Tears of remorse

Tears of concern.

At Jesus’ feet, she wept her guilt

Her tears soaked his dusty feet

She wiped them dry with her locks of hair

She kissed his feet as He forgave.

Happy are believers who mourn

Our tearful prayers are heard by our Lord,

God promises to restore our joy

And comfort us with His love and grace.

You may also enjoy my poem God Knows Firsthand Your Pain

You can read or listen to other poems in this series The Beatitudes of Jesus – An Introduction, Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit?, Blessed Are Those Who Mourn? Blessed Are The Meek? Blessed are Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness? Blessed are the Merciful? Blessed are the Pure?

You can listen to all my poems on several podcast platforms here

References: John MacArthur Grace To You, Alistair Begg Truth For Life, Chuck Swindoll – Insight

Some of the Bible verses references: Luke 7:38, James 4:10, II Corinthians 7:10, 1 Thes 4:13, Jeremiah 18:12, Psalms 32:1-4, Gen 37:34-35, Mark 16.10, Luke 22.62, Psalm 51, 2 Tim 1:2-4

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