Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4).
We are told in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice in the Lord always, and that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Therefore, the opening Scripture is not telling us to do the exact opposite, i.e. go around having a pity party so that we can receive comfort/strength from God. If that were the case the Scriptures would have been contradicting, but they don’t. Examining what the Scriptures have to say about this will help us to rightly divide the word of truth.
Jesus said “…In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33)”. Again we are told “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). 2 Cor 1:5 also says “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ” and “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). To be a committed disciple of Jesus is to sign up for a life of persecution and much tribulation from the devil and the world aimed at dissuading you from your walk with God. But be of good cheer, Jesus has already overcome the devil and the world (John 16:33; Col 2:15; Revelations 12:11). These troubles will bring you to a place of maturity in Christ if you stay faithful and abide in Christ. Therefore, do not waste your trials (Rick Joyner).
To mourn is to have feelings of sadness or sorrow. Even so we are not told to go looking for feelings of sadness or sorrow to live by so as to be blessed. If you have chosen to follow Jesus, things that cause such feelings will necessarily come. But thanks be to God that we are not our feelings, and we are not to walk by our feelings but by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). God never leaves us to our own fate during such times but when the sufferings abound, His comfort also abound (2 Corinthians 1:5). Through His comfort, He makes us able to comfort others with the same comfort we have received from Him (See 2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God’s comfort is not an expression of sympathy nor pity. It is His strength, encouragement, anointing, and the power He gives us so that we are able to overcome the things that come against us. And when we have His strength, we are empowered to impart what we have received from Him to those who are also going through the same suffering.
Therefore, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing were happening to you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).
-Kwadwo Omari
(c) 2015