How Can Mourning Bring Us Happiness? - By Carol McFadden

Matthew 5:4... "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Each one of the beatitudes draws from the previous beatitude. Those who are "poor in spirit" (5:3) are the ones who recognize their sinful, depraved state. So if we've  come that far, far enough to face up to the fact that we are so unholy, so depraved, that we are bankrupt in character compared to our perfect, holy Creator, then what naturally follows would be a heart that mourns over its utterly sinful condition. 

But how on earth can such a mournful state bring us blessedness, a state of utmost reward and happiness?

To answer that, we must pause and briefly compare the English Language with the Greek Language, since this passage of scripture has been translated from its original Greek words into our English words. Compared to the Greek language, our English words are very limited in meaning. 

For example, the English word here for "mourn" has nine different words in the biblical Greek language. But for time's sake, let's get that narrowed down to just one word, the one used in Mathew 5:4.

The Greek word for "mourn" used in THIS passage speaks of the strongest and most severe kind of mourning, representing a very deep-felt grief. 

The question is, a grief over what? What exactly are we expected to be grieving over here in this verse of scripture?

When we read the word "mourn" together with the word "comfort" in Matthew 5:4, it often conjures up for us memories of loved ones who have died, and how God promises us His comfort during those times of our deepest loss.

However, even though this scripture does, indeed, offer us that type of comfort, in the context of this section of scripture, Jesus is talking more about specific attitudes of character, the type of character necessary for the Kingdom of God. 

So here, God is telling us that our times of mourning must include that of mourning over our own sins. 

That's right! God promises us BLESSEDNESS if we will view our sin through His perspective and allow the sin that breaks His heart to break our heart. 

Yet, mankind often does just the opposite. In fact, all of us, rather than face up to our sin, tend, rather, to justify our sin because to face up to our sin might cost us a price that we feel would be too high, too life changing. 

For example, let's look at our sin for a minute and try to see the choice God is offering us - to mourn over it each time we recognize it and to turn from it each time we choose to FACE UP to it. 

Let's look at what God is asking us to do.

Let's suppose that God is asking us questions concerning our sin, questions like the following:

If facing up to your sin would leave you without friends, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?

If facing up to your sin would leave you in loneliness and boredom, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?

If facing up to your sin would take your fun out of life, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?

If facing up to your sin would leave you without your job, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?

If facing up to your sin would force you to live with horrible consequences, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?

If facing up to your sin would cause you to be ridiculed or slandered, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?

If facing up to your sin would leave you feeling trapped, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?

Are you getting the picture?

You see, even mourning our sin requires us to "believe God" if we are to have the ability to handle the enormity of our own sin, of our own depravity. 

In fact, the Bible tells us in Romans 12:3 
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."

When we, BY FAITH, through God's grace, are able to look at our sin and see it the way God sees it, then we will truly reach that place where we will CRAVE the COMFORT of a loving and merciful God.

Here, in verse 5 of the fifth chapter of Matthew, God promises us just that - all the comfort we will need, a comfort that God promises will leave us in a state of blessedness, in a place of reward and happiness that will change our lives forever.

How about it? Would you like God to change you forever? I know I would. We can all start by mourning our sin. By faith, let's start seeing our sin the way God sees it. :)