Blessed are those who mourn.

The joy of the Lord is our strength, but there is also a time to grieve and mourn. We are made as emotional beings, so expressing those emotions is appropriate when there is loss or disappointment. That’s why the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter.

Bottling up emotional trauma is a bad idea. You have to find a way to let it out and give it to Jesus. Find a place where you can have a good cry, then hand it to the One who knows your heart better than you do.

There’s no lack of faith in needing to grieve. Even when someone you’ve lost is a believer and you know you’ll see them again in heaven, you’ll still miss them here and that’s ok. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you peace, and then let it go. When you give your grieving to Jesus, He heals the wounds so your memories don’t hurt you. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Mat 5:4)

Grief can come in many forms for many reasons, not only when a loved one dies. If a dream you’ve held onto blows up, it’s ok to grieve, but don’t hold on to it any more. God has other plans, better plans.

Take time to mourn when it’s necessary and let the Comforter do His job.

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God requires us to be fruitful.

Jesus gave some dire warnings about how we should be living. It’s pretty clear that we need to live in Him and we need to be fruitful.

Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down. Why does it use up the ground?’ (Lk 13:7)

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (Jn 15:6)

This is not a pretty picture. We can’t be Christians in name only. We can’t sit in church, listen to sermons and go home having met our obligation for the week. If we have no relationship with Jesus at all, we risk being cut off and left to burn.

I’m sorry that sounds provocative, but that’s what it says. No one can take you out of God’s hands, but if you’re not in His hands to begin with, you’re going to be in big trouble.

The opposite is true. When we do live in Him, we can expect that our lives will be fruitful. We will have something to point to and thank God for. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Phl 2:12) In other words, make sure you know God and have the fruit to show for it.

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The body of Christ is there to help.

There’s a reason to be part of a church body. We need each other. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the day approaching. (Heb 10:25)

To exhort means to build up, or lift up. If you have friends who know you and love you, you have a net to fall into when you need it. Everyone will need to be lifted up at some point. Your friends are the best ones to turn to. You don’t have to explain anything to them. They understand and they know how to pray for you.

That’s why the church is a body. We need all the parts, not just to function as a church, but to help each other when we need it. Don’t hesitate to get help, ask for prayer, or counseling. We are here for each other. No one wants to see you fall or in pain. But you have to let people know.

The body of Christ is a beautiful thing. When it functions properly, it’s a safe place to grow spiritually and emotionally. Make friends. Be a friend. Be willing to help someone else when they need it. You’ll need it yourself some day.

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