When we think about mourning what do we think about? Maybe a widow in all black at a funeral? Or a nation wrecked by the death of a beloved leader or tragic event? Let’s wipe that image out of our heads for the sake of this lesson. I want to talk about mourning in terms of your spiritual mourning.

If you know me at all you know I really struggle with sin. If you are a believer, I bet you do too. However, the bigger question is how do we feel or react when we sin? Jesus talked about this in one of his sermons.

Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

He was talking about mourning in terms of our feeling of loss resulting from sin. Notice he does not say “blessed are those who have nothing to mourn about”. In fact, He is referencing scripture (prophesy) from many years prior that tells us how He feels about us as we mourn over our sin.

Isaiah 61 – 1. The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2. to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3. and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

The apostle Paul talked about mourning over sin in one of his letters.

2 Corinthians 7:10 – For godly greif produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

So looking at this and drawing some truth, here is what I want you to know today.

God is not “shocked” that you sinned. If you are mourning over your sin, He is ready to restore you. He wants to comfort you. Repent and be glad. He wants to give you “the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair”

Christianity is not living a perfect life, but rather continually growing in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Rodney McClure