Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. (Matt 5:4)
The prophets of the Old Testament promised that when the Messiah came, suffering and sorrow would end and all the people would be blessed and comforted by God.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted… to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3)
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1-2)
Sorrow and suffering are in fact temporary conditions belonging to this fallen world. “For the Lord’s anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning“ (Psalm 30:5). Suffering and sorrow may be a just result of our sin, but they are not eternal conditions. They create in us a broken heartedness which brings the Lord closer us.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:18-19)
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
Some children of alcoholic or narcissistic parents have a hard time allowing themselves to cry. But if they deal with the effects of their damaged parents on their lives, as they heal, they begin also to be able to mourn. They see the world as it is – broken, and yet capable of being healed. They are blessed when they can actually mourn again.
God promises to comfort us.
… and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
Fraternized 