mourning

So I'm currently going through a study on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) which starts off with the Beatitudes. One thing which I found interesting is 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

These past few months have indeed been full of grief - grief for my good friend who lost her brother and grief my childhood friend who lost her mother. I can't begin to understand how they feel. I can only imagine losing my own sisters or my mother or my father. And just thinking about that happening bring streams of tears. But praise be to God who does provide comfort and peace in times of sorrow.

But while I often think of losing a loved one when I read this verse, my studies suggest that the context might actually be about a different kind of grieving as well - mourning over one's own sin!

I was like, what?

But I thought about it. Our sins pained God so much that he grieved he had made man. He made death the penalty of sin. That definitely brings great sorrow, to know that my punishment is death, eternal separation from God. Just thinking about that happening brings tears to my eyes. But of course, the comforting news is that through the blood of Christ, those who acknowledge their sins and repent and follow Christ are saved! YAY! And how can you understand and feel that comfort unless you need it? Unless you mourn.

So think about it. When was the last time you humbled yourself before God and cried over your own sinfulness?