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"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. --- Matthew 5:4 This second beatitude references mourning, which is most commonly associated with things such as death, tragedy, and loss. How could Jesus ever claim that these are blessings when it feels as though they bring nothing but hopelessness and sadness? In fact, if you were to suggest to someone who was in the midst of mourning that they were actually blessed, you may not receive the most gracious response. Though the death of a loved one is commonly the reason for mourning, this beatitude is referring to a mourning that lies even deeper within us. Jesus wants us to mourn our sin and the version of ourselves that was once ruled by the ways of the world. When we meet Jesus and receive the grace and forgiveness He offers, we will be revealed to just how sinful and broken we are and how desperately we need Him. This revelation will lead us to grieve and mourn our own sin, which will gently guide us into God’s accepting and comforting arms –despite our sin, He chooses to love us. More than anything, Jesus craves to look at each one of us in our eyes and acknowledge the sins that exist within our hearts. He wants to shed light on the areas of our lives that we wish to hide from so that He can put them to death, once and for all. It is then that we can mourn our sins and who we once were while rejoicing in the new creation we are in Jesus. Blessed are those who experience this vulnerability because it will bring true the forgiveness and joy of Christ! The Beatitude Series – Those Who Mourn | GCU Blog