Photo credit: http://www.canonglenn.com/tag/holy-spirit/

Did you know there was a such thing as Thanksgiving Eve? Well, there is around here. It includes a home-cooked meal and a very special church service. It’s my favorite part of the holidays because, to me, it’s the official start to the holiday season. And I love Christmas time! But this Thanksgiving Eve was way more than just an excuse for me to start listening to Christmas music…

This year’s Thanksgiving Eve message was a gorgeous reminder that there is JOY in mourning. That’s m-o-u-r-n-i-n-g. NOT the same spelling of “morning” that we’re used to pairing the word “joy” with, right? (Remember that old praise and worship song that goes, “There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning”?)

So please hear this ALSO:

“There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the mourning.”

Because it’s true, too.

Because why? Because those who mourn are comforted. Through our pain, we are comforted by the Lord. Mourning is the means by which we receive His comfort. And it is a joyous promise.

So? We are blessed when we mourn.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

You’re blessed when you’re out of options, and all you can do is lean on God. Because when you realize your need for God, it is only then that you tap into His immeasurable greatness and goodness. You’re blessed when you’ve been stripped of that which is most precious to you. Because only then can you be tenderly embraced by the One most precious to you. – Eric Ludy (Paraphrase of Matthew 5:3-5)

And our God is the God of all comfort.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

 Jen

blessed are those who mourn Christianity Faith god of comfort joy in the morning joy in the mourning matthew 5:4 pain in the night Trials