A man with whom I attended college committed suicide recently. He killed himself on the 3-year anniversary of the day his wife died. He left behind a video in which he told how heartbroken he had been and of the many ways he had attempted to assuage his sorrow. I’m sad for my friend. I’m sorry for his pain and loneliness. And I’m sorry he did not turn to God and receive His healing love.
I wish my friend had pondered Jesus’ words: “God blesses those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). Many in our world know deep sadness. I recently read stories of a third world country where fathers rent out their 12- and 13-year-old daughters by the night. Most certainly these girls are mourners. A mum receives a call that her son has been killed in a biking accident. A daughter sits at her father’s hospital bed. A single mom works hours and collapses at the end of each day. Mourners all.
Some of us are mourners for others. The gospel has opened our eyes, and we weep over the agony of this world—all the hunger and desperation. We weep and sometimes we simply can’t stop crying. Sometimes people around us tell us to cheer up, grow up and stop feeling the pain so intensely. Perhaps we think we’re damaged goods because all we do is grieve with the grieving. And in precisely that place the kingdom of God arrives in surprising power and says, Blessed!
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “[Believers in Jesus] do not go out of their way to look for suffering, or try to contract out of it by adopting an attitude of contempt and disdain. They simply bear the suffering which comes their way as they try to follow Jesus Christ, and bear [this suffering] for His sake.”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 17:24-18:6
More:
Read John 11:17-37. Notice the tears. Who cries, and why do they cry?
Next:
How do you sense God wanting to meet you in your deep sadness? Where do you sense that God is wanting you to engage the deep sadness in your world?
jobert on July 24, 2012 at 7:31 am
for the sorrow of the world produces death. 🙁
winn collier on July 24, 2012 at 4:59 pm
sad, sad truth. But thanks be to God, Jesus trampled down death by death.
mike wittmer on July 24, 2012 at 10:15 am
Thank you for these wise, life-giving words, Winn. I suspect that Christians should mourn better than others, for we know how good this world was and how good the world will be. We feel the fall deep in our bones, as your examples illustrate so painfully well.
winn collier on July 24, 2012 at 5:00 pm
I agree, Mike. I believe that part of what we pastors have forgotten to do is to teach people how to mourn – and then, paradoxically, to teach them how to truly celebrate.
daisymarygoldr on July 24, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Sin is the cause of suffering, pain, disease and death that produce mourning. We mourn over evil and its ripple effect in our lives and that of others. There is deep agony in the soul when we get crushed by injustice and evil in the rawest form. The spirit grieves to see people reject God, families torn apart, children abandoned, life snuffed out as both young and old succumb to death. The blessed assurance of godly comfort is promised to all who have received Christ and His Kingdom. In heaven where there is no sin, God Himself will comfort His people and wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
conmeo on July 24, 2012 at 11:42 pm
To those of us in anguish in this world, is it wrong to want our Lord to take us home?
winn collier on July 25, 2012 at 8:51 am
Paul seemed to want to be with God, but he always carried with him the sense of: “but your will be done…” Prayers for your anguish, conmeo.