Oct. 22: Blessed are those who mourn

Recently, my family and I went on a walking trail. It was so beautiful as we strolled through the falling leaves of the deepening autumn. While walking, I felt overwhelmingly blessed by God for all He has given me. Along the way, we came across a dog park, where we let our dog run free. 

While there, I struck up a casual conversation with a few people, and one elderly gentleman noticed my daughter’s Emory University jacket. He asked if someone in our family had attended Emory, and I shared that I had. When he asked what I studied, I mentioned my Doctorate of Ministry. He immediately asked if I was a pastor, and when I said yes, he abruptly responded, "I don’t believe in all that Jesus stuff. I’ve read the Bible, and it’s all cookbook” (I don’t know why he said it was a cookbook), shaking his head as he walked away, adding, "Good luck." Though I wasn’t sure if he heard me, I softly called after him, "Remember, sir, no matter what, Jesus loves you. He died for both your sins and mine, offering new life." Watching him walk away with a smile, I felt a heavy burden on my heart—a weight I knew was from God. I don’t know this man, but as I made my way home, I prayed for him, asking God to help him one day encounter the transforming love of Jesus.

We live in a challenging and troubled time, one where wars rage and sin saturates our society. As we look around and see people drifting further from God, immersed in a culture of sin, I pray that our hearts are stirred with compassion and sorrow. Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). But why is mourning considered a blessing? Isn’t a blessing meant to bring joy and happiness, not sorrow and tears?

Yet Jesus teaches us that when we witness the evil in this world, the sin that pervades it, and the broken worship of our generation, and our hearts break with grief, leading us to weep in repentance and cry out in prayer for restoration—this is indeed a blessing. It is the deep mourning over the state of the world that draws us closer to God, invoking His comfort and mercy. I pray that from the depths of our hearts, we will cry out to the Lord on behalf of this world, this nation, and this generation, pleading, "Lord, restore us once again.”

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Dr. Won Kim

The Lead Pastor of Thrive Church