Jesus was not necessarily speaking about mourning the loss of a loved one, but that those who mourn over their sins will receive God’s comfort. When you weep over your sins and the trouble they brought to yourself and to others, you put yourself in a position to receive God’s forgiveness. True repentance does not focus on self. It’s not morbid or despairing; it doesn’t come from false humility or from wallowing in self-pity. It is acknowledging openly, plainly, and simply that you need God’s mercy and grace. As long as you delight in your sins, try to justify them, or blame others for them, you cannot be forgiven. It is only when you pray, ‘I confess that I have sinned against You in my thoughts, my words, and my actions’ that you put yourself into a position to be cleansed of your sin. The Bible says, ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:8-9 NKJV). And in that is your comfort! It is God’s forgiveness that produces genuine joy and comfort in your souls. It is God’s forgiveness that heals your deep inner wounds, and that restores you to intimacy with your heavenly Father. David said: ‘I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone’ (Psalm 32:5 NLT).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.