Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

This week's study is on the 2nd Beautitude, from Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." 

Here, to "mourn" doesn't refer to mourning over the loss of a loved one. Rather, it means to mourn for your sin. It doesn't mean that you wallow in guilt and shame day after day. It means upon the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we don't harden our hearts to His voice and keep living the same way we have been. Instead, we let God touch our heart as we weep with genuine repentance. We mourn over the pain we have caused God by disobeying Him. This place of mourning leads us to repentance, which means to turn away from our sin. Sure, we will still make mistakes, but we will do our best to turn away from our sins and run to Jesus.

Here's the good news: When we mourn, we will be comforted by God! HELPS Word studies defines the word translated 'blessed' as "describing a believer in enviable position from receiving God's provisions which extend His grace". Let me give you an example. About a year ago, I found myself in a place of disobedience. I started compromising in seemingly small ways that led to bigger things. In a "slow fade", I was drifting away from God and His plan for my life. Thankfully, God wrecked what would have destroyed me. Once it was all over and I repented, what broke my heart the most was I had compromised in ways I didnt even realize until God delivered me from the situation. What's so amazing about that? God's response. I told Him I was sorry, turned away from my sin, and became more determined than ever to do things His way. You know what He did? He enveloped me in His love like never before-- despite the fact that I had failed Him. I broke His heart and He restored mine. He kept my best interest at heart when put Him on the back burner. He rescued me when I had denied Him in some ways. He protected me from a situation that would have been beyond horrible. He removed me from the situation, drew me into His arms, and said, " No. Not her. She's mine".

It took me a long time to forgive myself for the mistakes I made during that season. In fact, I think I'm just now beginning to one year later. I knew better and I couldn't get past that truth. However, you don't have to waste your time beating yourself up like I did. That doesn't earn your forgiveness. Jesus paid the price for all of our sins on the cross. Just forgive yourself like Jesus and move forward! I realize now that I'm human and I make mistakes, just like everyone else. But you know what? It won't be my last mistake. I wish it was. But as long as I'm alive, I'm never gonnA be perfect. The important thing is that we run back to God every time we mess up. We embrace His love, forgiveness, faithfulness, and move forward in His plan for our lives. We all fall but don't stay down, we get back up and get back to work doing what God has called us to do.

So, as I mourned for my sin, He comforted me and demonstrated His love for me in such a powerful way that I will never forget. I'm forgiven. I'm restored. I'm loved. And I've moved forward in His truly amazing grace. That's what this verse means when God says BLESSED are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Forever Blessed,

Rachel Marie

Are you putting God in a box?

They spoke against God; 
they said, "Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? 
True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, 
streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meat for his people?"
- Psalm 78:19-20 (NIV)

They even spoke against God himself, saying,
"God can't give us food in the wilderness.
Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out,
but he can't give his people bread and meat."
- Psalm 78:19 (NLT)

It's easy to read this Scripture and think WHAT?? The Israelites have seen God do many signs and wonders to deliver them from Egypt, part the Red Sea, guide them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire by night, split open rocks in the wilderness to give them water as abundant as the seas, and fed them with the bread of angels (see Psalm 78). Even after seeing all this, they still limit God? They still doubt His ability? They still doubt that He cares for them? Seriously?? The Israelites trust in God was limited. As many do today, they put God in a box saying, "This is what God can do; this is what He cannot do".

How often do we do this? Not necessarily with our words but with our attitudes and actions. When we take a step back, it's easy to see that we are not so different from the Israelites today. In Philippians 4:19, God promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. Not only is it a promise in His Word (which should be reason enough to believe it!), but you have seen Him supply your needs 1,000 times (okay, if you're honest, more times than you could count), yet you still worry that somehow this time will be different-- that somehow God will fail you, that He won't come through this time. You believe God has saved you but you don't believe He will heal you. You believe God has redeemed you from eternal damnation, but you don't believe He desires for you to have a more abundantly life, that His plans are to prosper you and not to harm you. God has healed your body, but you struggle to believe He will heal your broken heart. You believe God created you, but you don't believe you're beautiful. God has brought you through things time and time again, but you just don't believe He will do it one more time. You believe God is bigger than your problems but you insist on carrying the burden yourself-- burdens you were never meant to carry. 

Why do we limit God? Why do we tend to have this "God can do this, not that" mindset? We have to cast down imaginations and every lofty thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and take captive EVERY THOUGHT and make it obedient to Christ (See 2 Cor. 5:10).

We learn from Mark 11:24 that we have to believe BEFORE we receive. 1) Ask. 2) Believe. 3) Receive. We have to believe not just that He can, but that He will. We have to build our faith by hearing the Word (See Romans 10:17). Stay in His Word daily. Listen to Bible-based preaching often! Build yourself up in the Word to keep the faith!

So as you face your current "impossible" situation, take time to reflect on what He's already done for you. Won't He do it again? His mercies? New every morning.

Trust God. Stop limiting what God wants to do in your life with your lack of belief.. Let God out of the box in your mind and see the power He will unleash in your life.


Scripture Reading:

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

- Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

...for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? 

- Hebrews 13:5-6 (AMP)

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

- 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. 

- Isaiah 53:4-5 (AMP)

This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” 

- Matthew 8:17 (NLT)

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

- John 10:10 (KJV)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

- Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

- Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

- Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

- Psalm 68:19 (AMP)

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

- Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV)

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

- Psalm 55:22 (AMP)

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

- John 14:27 (AMP)

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We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

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Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

- Mark 11:24 (NIV)

God is Faithful,

Rachel Marie