We have now entered the season of Lent.  For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words.  ✞ ♥

During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 5—the Beatitudes.  Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.”  To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’   Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are!  Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥

Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us.  We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection!  ✞ ♥

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

Hospice.  This is a place where I live my days.  As a Bereavement Counselor, I can’t count the number of times that I have said these words of this Scripture.  Written them, printed them for a family member or a patient or myself even.  This Scripture is short and sweet.  The words touch hearts and minds, and remind those who read them that even themselves—the hurting, the scared—have not been forgotten by God. And that He took the time to let them know that He knows their hurt and that His hand is on their lives.

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn.
Isaiah 61:2

Jesus knew what it was like to have a broken heart.  He, Himself, wept.  He hurt, He cried, and He shed tears.  He knows.

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,
Luke 19:41

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping,
He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
John 11:33

Jesus wept.
John 11:35

The word mourn is most commonly tied with death…with the loss of a loved one, but that’s not the only case.  We can mourn any loss.  Death as well as the loss of a job, of a friendship, of a dream, a divorce, anything.  And in any case of loss or mourning, He will be there to comfort us, to love us, and to carry us through it.  My Study Bible pointed out something that I never thought of before.  It spotlighted the fact that in order to mourn something, we need to have a sensitive heart, and we need to have a tender heart.  These are two characteristics that are Christ-like.  So, when we mourn, we work towards developing these characteristics, another example of God working all things for our good.

* ~ ♥ ~ ✞ ~ ♥~ *

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, mourning hurts…loss hurts.  Without You, I don’t know how we would cope with the losses we face.  Thank You for the gentle reminder of Your love and of Your comfort.  Thank You for showing us Your Son’s realness in sharing the times when He wept and when He hurt, reminding us that there is no wrong in shedding tears.  Blessed are we, when we mourn, for we will be comforted.  In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.