“WHAT DO I DO?! How should I respond to everything that’s happening in our nation? How should I respond as a follower of Jesus?” Maybe these questions have come to your mind the last couple of weeks. They’ve come to mine.
I’m sure you have so many different sources that are already trying to answer these questions for you. From the news to social media influencers, it might seem like everyone is trying to tell you how to feel, and how to react.
In our reflection this week, I want us to consider one step Jesus might be inviting His followers into at this unique time.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” - Matthew 5:4 NIV
I read the following lines from influential author Brené Brown last week: “As individuals, we’re afraid of the darkness grief brings. As a society, we have pathologized it and turned it into something to cure or get over.” What I understand Brown to be saying is that, as a culture, we cannot stand the uncomfortable feelings that grieving brings, so we do everything in our power to short-circuit or bypass the process altogether. But is not engaging with the process of grieving (or mourning) the best reaction to the cultural moment that we are all facing? What would Jesus say about this?
The Greek root word for “mourn” in Matthew 5:4 is πενθεω (“pentheo”), which means, “to experience sadness or grief as a result of depressing circumstances or the conditions of persons.” In other words, I think πενθεω means to be sad about something that’s wrong around you, in other people, or in you. The root word for “comforted” is παρακαλεω (“parakaleo”), meaning, “to cause someone to be encouraged or consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means.” (It can also mean to “urge,” “implore,” or “exhort.”)
Using these two definitions, I rewrote the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:4 in this way:
“Blessed are those who ‘experience sadness or grief as the result of depressing circumstances or conditions or persons,’ because they will be ‘encouraged or consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means.”
To put it simply, Jesus is saying that we are in a state of blessing whenever our hearts break for the things that break God’s heart. Why? Because it feels good to have your heart broken? No. We are blessed because we are promised that the encouragement and consolation of God will meet us in our mourning.
Notice who does the comforting. It does not say that those who mourn will comfort themselves. The people who mourn are not “blessed, happy, fortunate” because they comfort themselves by numbing the pain of deep sadness (whether through substances, distractions, or Christian cliches like “This too shall pass” or “Everything happens for a reason”). No, they recognize that something is wrong, they sit with it, they wait on God to comfort them.
As I reflect on the words of Jesus in light of what’s happening in our nation right now, I realize that my heart should be broken right now. I should experience sadness about the state of my country, church, and the sin/prejudices within my own soul. Things are not right. I need to sit with that and allow God to “urge, implore, exhort” or encourage me in His timing. If my heart is not broken right now—if I numb or distract myself—then something is not right within me. What about you?
If you’re grieving right now over something that breaks God’s heart, Jesus says you are “blessed, happy, fortunate.” Again, not in the sense that it feels good, but because you will be encouraged.
So what should followers of Jesus do in this cultural moment?
One thing we should do is mourn—in other words allow ourselves to feel what we’re feeling. We are called to courageously choose not to numb ourselves, but instead to mourn and reflect on the conditions of our country, of people groups, and our own hearts. By giving ourselves time in this space, we will be “encouraged,” “consoled,” “urged, “implored,” “exhorted,” by God. In doing this we will receive the courage we need to encourage others and actually be the people of Jesus in this difficult time.
“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV
How
This week, take some time to write down some of the feelings you’re having as a result of what’s going on in our country. Whether grief, anger, sadness, or anything, write it down.
Take your emotions to God in prayer, saying or writing something like, “Jesus, today I’m feeling angry . . .”
Take some time to talk to a trusted friend about what you wrote, asking them to simply listen, whether or not they agree with your perspective. Ask them to pray for you in this difficult time.
If you would like to pray or talk with someone, feel free to email me at ianreyes567@gmail.com, or another member of the Canyon Creek Project team at hello@canyoncreekproject.com.
We’re in this together,
-Ian