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

A grandson called home from West Point one evening and mourning about how difficult the training was. When his father told him to try to find something positive, the cadet mentioned how he liked to spit-shine his boots, and then was asked why.

“Because,” replied the cadet, “that means my feet aren’t in them.”

Happy are the sad. Absurd? Hardly not! This is what Jesus preached in His second sermon point on the Mount. The apparent paradox is not difficult to understand when seen in a spiritual light. It is not that weeping blesses, rather, comfort comes from the Lord to those who mourn over sin because it harms the glory of God. He is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) who promises to remove the guilt from those who weep over sin and to always meet our need by sympathizing, encouraging, and strengthening (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Consequently, happiness comes to sad people because their godly sadness leads to God’s comfort through Jesus Christ (Isaiah 61:2-3; Matthew 11:28). Will you mourn like the West Point cadet or will you mourn with the psalmist, “Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed” (Psalm 119:136).

“Though sad at heart, to sing joyfully.” – Christine de Pisan