The Benefit of Tears

     Last time I talked about being poor in spirit. John MacArthur has said "if 'poor in spirit' is a recognition of the condition intellectually, then 'mourning' is the emotional result of this recognition." There are at least 6 words used in Scripture that are translated "mourn." Of them all, the one used in Matthew 5:4 is the most intense. It represents "an expression of intense sense of loss, helplessness and despair." Once again, Jesus turns culture upside down by letting us know that in order for us to experience the blessing of God (in this case, comfort), we must first experience an intense sense of loss that expresses itself in mourning. Wow. Let that sink in for a minute.

     I think that we sometimes believe that God brings into our life just to discipline us. While that may occasionally be true for very intentional reasons, the over-arching message of this beatitude is one of comfort. The reality is that we all face times of intense mourning. These times are painful and we often wish they were not necessary. But it is not as though God normally makes us go through them. They are just a natural part of the ebb and flow of life.

     Let me camp for a couple of minutes in 2 Corinthians 7 and talk about the purpose of mourning.

     Paul had written an earlier letter to the Corinthian church family that was pretty pointed in its denunciation of some of their behaviors. His goal had not been to be hurtful, but to get them to recognize where they were wrong and make appropriate changes.

     Here is what Paul wanted for them:

1. He wants them to experience the comfort that comes from a place of deep dependence (4-6). He uses himself as the example and expresses his own sense of affliction, but also comfort from God who "comforts the downcast."
2. Paul wanted them to experience the kind of sorrow that leads to repentance, knowing that this would also bring great comfort (8-10). It is only once we have experienced the painful recognition of our wrong and have turned from it that we enjoy the comfort of knowing a life "without regret."

     What is the assurance? If you experience intense loss and the resulting sorrow, you will be comforted. I am helpless. I am utterly dependent on God. I struggle with sin. I have come to the end of myself and quit trying to prove my worth. NOW I am ready to receive comfort from God.

     Let me give you one last way to take advantage of the comfort you have received from God. It's still in 2 Corinthians, but in the fourth verse of the book (1:4). Comfort comes to us from God and is intended to be channeled through us to others. God "comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." So if you have experienced God's comfort, He intends for you to be His vehicle to bring comfort to someone else who is going through affliction.

     I find it fascinating that God can even redeem our pain in this way. Nothing that God brings or allows into my life is wasted, but can all be used for His glory and for the building up of others around me.