Blessed Are Those Who Mourn: Embracing Grief and Hope in Christ

Why Mourning Matters More Than We Think

Most of us spend our lives avoiding grief. We distract ourselves, push through pain, and try to convince ourselves that sadness is a sign of weakness. But Jesus turns that mindset upside down when He says:

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4, NLT)

Why would mourning be a blessing? Why would Jesus, in the very first lines of His most famous sermon, tell us that grief leads to something good?

The answer is more profound than we often realize. Mourning is not just about sorrow—it’s about recognizing brokenness, in ourselves and in the world, and allowing that realization to lead us back to God.

The World’s View on Grief vs. God’s

We live in a culture that idolizes strength and despises vulnerability. We are told to "move on," "stay strong," and "get over it." But Jesus presents a countercultural truth—grieving is not only natural, but necessary.

• Culture says: Hide your emotions and power through.

• Jesus says: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalm 34:18, NLT)

• Culture says: Sadness is weakness.

• Jesus says: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT)

• Culture says: Focus on what makes you happy.

• Jesus says: “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5, NLT)

Grief has a purpose. It is through mourning that we learn to fully depend on God, and it is in our sorrow that He draws closest to us.

When Mourning Is a Sign of Strength

In the Bible, some of the most powerful moments of faith come from those who grieve deeply. Jesus Himself wept over the death of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35). He mourned over Jerusalem's rejection of God (Luke 19:41). The psalms are full of cries of lament, and yet, they always lead back to hope.

Mourning is not weakness; it is a sign that our hearts are soft enough to feel, strong enough to acknowledge brokenness, and faithful enough to trust that God can restore what is lost.

Mourning Over Our Own Brokenness

One of the most overlooked aspects of this Beatitude is that mourning is not just about loss—it’s about repentance. To mourn our own sin is to recognize how deeply we need Jesus.

Paul reminds us:“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, NLT)

This type of mourning leads to transformation. When we grieve our sin and turn to God, He replaces our shame with joy, our brokenness with healing, and our despair with purpose.

Are We Moved to Action?

The people who truly understand mourning don’t just feel sadness—they do something about it. Jesus calls us to have hearts that break for what breaks His.

We should mourn over injustice, suffering, and the lost. But we cannot stop there. Mourning should move us to compassion, to action, and to a deeper love for those around us.

1 John 3:17 challenges us:“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?”

True mourning—mourning that Jesus blesses—is not passive. It moves us to love, serve, and share the hope of Christ with those who desperately need it.

Living in the Tension of Mourning and Hope

To live as followers of Jesus means embracing both grief and joy. It means recognizing the reality of brokenness while holding tightly to the hope of restoration. It means allowing our hearts to break, not in despair, but in anticipation of God’s healing.

Jesus doesn’t promise that we won’t experience loss, but He does promise that we won’t be alone in it. “They will be comforted.” This is the great hope of the Gospel—that no tear goes unseen, no sorrow is ignored, and no suffering is wasted.

Are You Willing to Mourn?

The Beatitudes are not just nice sayings—they are invitations to live differently. Are we willing to sit in sorrow when needed, to mourn over our sin, to weep for the brokenness of the world, and to let that mourning push us toward hope and action?

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced deep mourning? How did you see God move in that season?

2. How can mourning move you to action in your community and relationships?

3. Are there areas in your life where you need to mourn sin and turn to Jesus for healing?

Check out my book, Walking Upside Down: The Journey to a Blessed Life, for more on this topic!

The Blessing of Being Poor in Spirit: Relying on God Completely

Are We Dependent on God or Ourselves?

If we’re being honest, many of us live as though we are completely self-sufficient. We may believe in God, attend church, and even pray, but when it comes to our needs, we often rely more on our own ability to plan, work hard, and provide for ourselves. Jesus challenges that mindset in the very first Beatitude:

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:3, NLT)

Jesus is not calling us to financial poverty—He is calling us to a heart posture of complete dependence on Him. Being poor in spirit is about humility, recognizing that everything we have, even our very breath, is a gift from God. It means emptying ourselves of pride so that God can fill us with His presence, guidance, and provision.

The Controversy of Dependence in a Self-Reliant Culture

We live in a world that glorifies independence. We celebrate self-made success, personal achievement, and financial security. We are constantly told to chase after more—more money, more influence, more control over our own lives. The idea of being dependent on someone else, even God, feels counterintuitive.

But Jesus tells us something radically different: the blessed life is not about being in control—it’s about surrender.

• Culture says: Take care of yourself first.

• Jesus says: “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11, NLT)

• Culture says: Success is measured by what you achieve.

• Jesus says: “The greatest among you must be a servant.” (Matthew 23:11, NLT)

• Culture says: Be proud of your independence.

• Jesus says: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT)

This is why Jesus starts the Beatitudes with poverty in spirit. Until we recognize our need for Him, we will never fully experience His Kingdom.

Learning Dependence: The Story of Corrie Ten Boom

One of the most powerful examples of someone living out spiritual poverty is Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who, along with her family, hid Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. When she was captured and imprisoned in a concentration camp, she lost everything—her home, her freedom, even her family. But what she did not lose was her faith.

Corrie famously said, “You can never learn that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have.” In the most desperate and destitute circumstances, she experienced the fullness of God’s provision, sustaining her hope when all else was stripped away. That is what it means to be poor in spirit—recognizing that nothing in this world can sustain us the way God can.

The Daily Bread Mentality

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He instructed them to say, “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11, NLT)

Not weekly bread. Not monthly provision. Daily reliance on Him.

This echoes God’s provision for the Israelites in the wilderness when He provided manna each morning. They were instructed to gather only what they needed for the day, trusting that God would provide again tomorrow.

But how often do we live like that? Instead, we obsess over securing our future, ensuring we have more than enough so that we never have to feel vulnerable or in need. And yet, Jesus tells us to come to Him daily, in full dependence, trusting Him to provide for each moment as it comes.

Living Poor in Spirit Today

So how do we live this out in our daily lives? How do we truly walk in spiritual poverty and dependence on God?

1. Recognize That Everything Is from God

   Every talent, opportunity, and blessing we have comes from Him. James 1:17 says, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father.” Living poor in spirit means holding everything with open hands and acknowledging God as our true provider.

2. Pray for Daily Dependence

   Make it a practice to ask God each day for what you need—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Ask for wisdom, strength, and guidance, trusting that He will give you what is needed for today.

3. Surrender Your Plans

   It’s good to plan for the future, but not at the expense of trusting God. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Are we willing to lay down our plans and trust that God’s path is better than our own?

4. Remember How God Has Provided in the Past

   The Israelites quickly forgot how God delivered them, and we often do the same. Take time to reflect on how God has provided for you in the past—your Red Sea moments where He made a way when there seemed to be none. Let that build your faith for today and tomorrow.

Are You Willing to Be Empty So God Can Fill You?

Being poor in spirit is not about weakness—it’s about positioning ourselves in a place where we can fully receive the blessings of God’s Kingdom. It’s about acknowledging our need for Him every single day, not just when things get hard. And it’s about trusting that when we empty ourselves, God will fill us with something far greater than we could ever obtain on our own.

Reflection Questions:

1. What area of your life do you struggle to trust God with?

2. List moments where God has provided for you. How do they encourage your faith?

3. How can you intentionally live with greater dependence on God?

Check out chapter 6 of my book, Walking Upside Down: The Journey to a Blessed Life, for more on this topic!

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The Beatitudes: The Controversy of the Blessed Life

Are We Living the Blessed Life or Just a Comfortable One?

If we’re honest, many of us have equated God’s blessing with comfort, success, and happiness. We hear phrases like, “I’m so blessed” when someone gets a raise, buys a new house, or enjoys good health. But is that really what Jesus meant when He described a blessed life in the Beatitudes?

Read Matthew 5:3-10 to get a clear picture of the descriptors of a blessed life:

The Beatitudes

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

4 God blesses those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 God blesses those who are humble,

for they will inherit the whole earth.

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,

for they will be satisfied.

7 God blesses those who are merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

for they will see God.

9 God blesses those who work for peace,

for they will be called the children of God.

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."

The teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5 challenge every cultural norm we hold about what it means to be truly blessed. Instead of promising wealth, power, or ease, Jesus says blessing belongs to the humble, the merciful, the peacemakers, and even the persecuted. If that doesn’t make us pause and reexamine our faith, I don’t know what will.

When Blessing Looks Like Suffering

One of the biggest struggles we have as believers is reconciling suffering with God’s goodness. We see pain, injustice, and struggle in our own lives and in the world around us, and it makes us question: Where is God in all of this?

But Jesus doesn’t shy away from this reality. In fact, He leans into it:

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4, NLT)“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:10, NLT)

Why would mourning and persecution be labeled as blessings? Because Jesus knows something we often forget—our greatest hope is not found in temporary relief but in eternal reward. He calls us to trust that His ways are higher, even when they seem upside down.

The Battle Between Comfort and Kingdom

Jesus' words in the Beatitudes directly challenge the way we seek comfort over calling. We crave stability, safety, and certainty. But Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23, NLT). He calls us into spaces that are uncomfortable, countercultural, and sometimes even dangerous.

• Culture says: Avoid discomfort at all costs.

• Jesus says: “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” (Matthew 5:5, NLT)

• Culture says: Chase success and power.

• Jesus says: “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6, NLT)

• Culture says: Keep the peace by staying silent.

• Jesus says: “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NLT)

The Beatitudes are a direct call to live differently, to reject self-preservation for the sake of God’s Kingdom. But the hard question is: Are we willing to do that?

The Risk of Following Jesus

Living the way Jesus describes in the Beatitudes is risky. It’s not safe. It will put you at odds with culture, your workplace, and maybe even your friends or family. And yet, it is the way of the Kingdom.

Jesus makes no promises that following Him will be easy. But He does promise this:“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33, NLT)

Everything we need—not everything we want.

Are You Really Ready to Walk Upside Down?

The Beatitudes are not a checklist. They are an invitation into a radically different way of living. A way that doesn’t always make sense. A way that will cost us. But a way that leads to the greatest reward—the presence of God, both now and forever.

The question is not whether we believe in the Beatitudes, but whether we are actually living them out. Are we choosing comfort, or are we choosing Kingdom?

Reflection Questions:

1. How do you define blessing? How does that compare to Jesus’ definition?

2. Have you ever experienced suffering that led to deeper faith? What did you learn from it?

3. In what ways is Jesus calling you to step into discomfort for the sake of His Kingdom?

Check out chapter 5, "The Beatitudes: The Path to God’s Kingdom" of my book, Walking Upside Down: The Journey to a Blessed Life, for more on this topic!