Matthew 5:4 | Consider for a moment those times in life when you feel
alright –when you feel at peace. What are the conditions that cause that or
allow for that?
Next, think about the times in your life when you don’t feel alright –when
you don’t feel at peace. What’s gone wrong?
Now, for our final query, how much time do you spend trying to be in the
first category and not the second? If you’re like most of us, you spend
much of your waking energy trying to build a life that keeps you feeling
alright and at peace. We want to be ok. We want to live at peace.
So imagine the shock and surprise you’d experience if Jesus walked up to
you and turned that all around by saying, “Happy are those who experience
deep sadness.” It’s counter-intuitive and it goes against everything we’re
striving so hard for. How could it possibly be true?