The Alpha of Mourning

UV3096/10000 The Alpha of Mourning
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5 v 4

One of the distinctions between heaven and earth is that in the latter exists death, suffering, pain and the accompanying sorrow while in heaven, these do not exist. Suffering is inevitable for any person and especially for the believers. Just as we partake in the suffering of Christ, we also partake in the consolation or comfort that Christ received. The Lord sends the Holy Spirit who is the Comforter to strengthen our hearts and lighten our sorrow. Whatever be the cause of our tears or mourning, He changes it to laughter and joy. But before we are comforted, we do go through a period of sorrow, of distress. During this valley season, the Lord stays closest to us and comforts us as a mother comforts a crying child.
We need to mourn over the sins of our past, our wanton rebellion and disobedience of the Lord. Godly sorrow leads to transformation and great blessing. We do not wallow in self pity or guilt but we exchange the grace of the Lord for our misery, weakness, sorrow, pain. We , therefore, emerge stronger and better when we have gone through a period of repentance or of mourning. The Lord will cause inner healing to happen and the hurt or grief caused by a particular act or event will fade away.
It is not only death that we mourn but it could be a disappointment, a failure, a loss, a relationship that has ended. As we cry out to the Lord whatever be the cause, He will reach out and wipe our tears. We should also set aside a time of mourning or of godly sorrow on a regular basis even when everything seems to be going good for us. This will keep us from being spiritually cold or complacent. Such godly sorrow is part of the process of sanctification, growth and fruitfulness we undergo. The Lord uses our times of grief or mourning to also make us instruments or channels of comfort to others who are facing bereavement, failure, loss of any kind. Sharing the apt word of God is the most effective way of comforting the grieving.