Monday, November 14 – Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

The holiday season ahead of us is an exciting time for some but a dark time for others. Whether someone we love is not present or seasonal changes affect us negatively, it can be difficult to celebrate when so many around us are happy, but we feel far from that place. You are not alone wherever you find yourself as you face this holiday season. God sees your grief, your joy, and your wrestling. Those who mourn are not outcasts in the kingdom of God—they are precious in His sight. He calls them blessed because Jesus Himself was a man acquainted with grief during His earthly ministry. When we mourn deeply, we experience a bit of what He went through. Paul wrote about sharing this grief, saying, “But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. . . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:7,10).

When we mourn and cast our burdens on the Lord, we get a glimpse of what Jesus went through on our behalf. This is also not something we learn alone. God changes us and fills us with His Spirit, who accompanies us even on the darkest days. Further, God has provided our church community to serve one another in times like these. If you experience grief during the holiday season, it may be easier for you to share your sufferings with God than to share your needs with a brother or sister in Christ. May we never lose sight of these gifts God has given us to navigate this life. He has given us Himself, showing He is our one true constant, and He has also given us one another to exemplify who He is. In all these things, God shows intentionality and care for those who are suffering. When we suffer, God does not set us to the side; He calls us blessed because through Him, we will truly be comforted.

• When have you felt seen by God during a time of hardship or grief?
• Who in your community of faith is grieving? How might you serve them?
• Pray and ask God to give you eyes to see those who need hope and love as they wrestle with grief in this season.