Tears Are A Blessing

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“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

Matthew 5:4

Many would not count the year 2020 a blessing. According to Matthew 5:4 blessings filled the year. Families experienced loss as the death toll around the world climbed. Loneliness took its toll on those in nursing homes, the elderly, and others feared what they could not understand. Some suffered loss of finances and the list could continue. Continuing would only cause us to look at our circumstances and miss the blessing that comes with mourning. Not that any look for mourning but it comes to this world.

The blessing comes with knowing the pain cutting through our heart does not go unnoticed by the One who comforts.

“Thou tellest my wanderings:

put thou my tears into thy bottle:

are they not in thy book?

When I cry unto thee,

then shall mine enemies turn back:

this I know:

for God is for me.”

Psalm 56:8,9

God records the path of his children in his book. I’m guessing this is his book of remembrance mentioned elsewhere. He stores our tears in his bottle. They are ever before him. We are blessed for he remembers us and is for us. Our comfort comes in trusting him to give us his best . Trust brings comfort and comfort brings praise.

The things mentioned in the opening paragraph speak to this world and its trials. Those trusting in the Lord know these things are temporary. Followers of Christ experience the mourning and the comfort. Those of the world have no lasting place of comfort when their hope is only in this world.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ,

we are of all men most miserable.”

1Corinthians 15:19

Our hope in Christ transcends this world. For we believe as Christ rose from the dead,

“even so in Christ shall all be made alive…

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep,

we should live together with him.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together,

and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:10,11.

We have a comfort this world does not have – a comfort Jesus explained to his disciples on the evening of his arrest.

“But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth;

• It is expedient for you that I go away:
• for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you:
• but if I depart, I will send him unto you…
•  and ye shall be sorrowful,
• but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” John 16:6,7,20.

Followers of Christ have his word.

• He comes alongside us in our pain in the person of the Holy Spirit
• to comfort us, give us joy,
• and work all things out for our good.
• We are blessed as God works his highest good in us and for us.

If you don’t know the comfort of Christ, you will experience the pain of a fallen world but without the  comfort, strength, joy, and hope. If you’ve not experienced the comfort of Christ, he offers it to you.

It begins the same way for all – recognizing we are poor in spirit then mourning our sinful state with a godly sorrow.

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23.

“For godly sorrow

worketh repentance to salvation

not to be repented of:

but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

2 Corinthians 7:10.

The state we are born in separates us from God, his kingdom, and the comfort he offers. That’s enough to make anyone mourn – but will you seek his comfort? It can be found in Paul’s answer to the Philippian jailer who asked –

“ Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said,

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Acts 16:30,31.

Was the jailer comforted? Hear what happened next.

“And when he had brought them into his house,

he set meat before them,

and rejoiced,

believing in God with all his house.”

Acts 16:34.

Believing in Jesus Christ for salvation doesn’t save us from the troubles of this world. We will still have some. It does bring hope and comfort into our trials. It does turn our mourning into joy.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,

• to give unto them beauty for ashes,
• the oil of joy for mourning,
• the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
• that they might be called trees of righteousness,
• the planting of the LORD,
• that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

Beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, praise for heaviness – sounds like blessings I want for the New Year. Hey, what am I saying? I do possess them all in Jesus Christ. Do you?

Praying each who read are trees of righteousness planted by the Lord. May we each bring him glory and enjoy our blessedness in Christ.