“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” —Matthew 5:4–5
When we consider those who mourn, as well as those who are meek, our first thoughts seem to be that they are anything but “blessed.” Most of the time, those who are mourning and those who are considered meek are not in enviable positions. No one is competing for their spots or for their places on the ladder of life. They seem to invoke both our empathy and sympathy, yet Jesus tells us here that “blessed” is exactly what they are. Hmmm … isn’t that interesting? Could it be that Jesus knows it is most merciful of our loving God to allow us to be at the end of ourselves?
When we are at the end of our ropes, reaching the very edge of our need, we are forced to realize our limitations. We end up with nothing left to cling to. We realize that we have foolishly put our trust in something other than Him. Could it be that this is where abundance truly begins—humbled and broken and falling facedown at Jesus’s feet? Broken and empty?
Blessedness begins with the brokenness of self. When we recognize our needs and bring them to the only One who is able to meet them, Jesus says we are “blessed”—possessing the favor of God. King David says:
“The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit—O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.” —Psalm 51:17
The prophet Isaiah said:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners, to announce the year when the LORD will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn, to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement. They will be called oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the LORD to reveal his splendor.” —Isaiah 61:1–3
Our Lord comforts us in our mourning in order for us to comfort others with the comfort we have received.
“The believer is in spiritual danger if he allows himself to go for any length of time without tasting the love of Christ and savoring the felt comforts of a Savior’s presence. When Christ ceases to fill the heart with satisfaction, our souls will go in silent search of other lovers … By the enjoyment of the love of Christ in the heart of a believer, we mean an experience of the ‘love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us’ (Romans 5:5) … because the Lord has made himself accessible to us in the means of grace, it is our duty and privilege to seek this experience from Him in these means till we are made the joyful partakers of it.” —John Flavel
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the world needs comforting. A casual glance around our spheres of influence makes it clear that if we are simply willing to take our eyes off ourselves and our own agendas, we will see masses of hurting people everywhere. Since the fall of humankind way back in the Garden of Eden, there has been no shortage of pain on this earth. Nobody has more problems than people!
Meekness is anything but weakness. It is a condition of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness, not in weakness but in power. It is a balance born in strength of character. It is power under control. It is Jesus on the cross.
Paul reminds us:
“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” —2 Corinthians 1:3–4
In mercy, God allows things in our lives to drive us back to Him, to get us to return to our point of departure, for our good and His glory.
Become More
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” —Matthew 11:28–30
“God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters.” —John Henry Jowett
Further Reflections
“The teachings of Jesus are all out of proportion when compared to our natural way of looking at things, and they come to us initially with astonishing discomfort. We gradually have to conform our walk and conversation to the precepts of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit applies them to our circumstances. The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations—it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us.” —Oswald Chambers
“The Lord sometimes suffers His people to be driven into a corner that they may experimentally know how necessary He is to them … Jesus can soon remove our sorrow, He delights to comfort us. Let us hasten to Him while He waits to meet us.” —Charles H. Spurgeon