Blessed Are They that Mourn
In one of Christ's most famous sermons , He told His disciples, "Blessed are they that mourn." Truthfully, I found these words a little unsettling. Can we only receive blessings through intense suffering? If life is going well, do I need to seek trials to be a true disciple? I've been pondering this topic for months, and I finally feel like I have an answer that works for me. When Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, I believe that He felt each one of our pains: from heartbreak to stubbed toes to appendicitis. He experienced every moment in which we feel embarrassed or upset or alone. He went through all this to be able to understand us perfectly. With that understanding, He is able to succor us, comfort us, and strengthen us. We are commanded to become like Him, which means we too must succor, comfort, and strengthen others. But we may not have experienced imprisonment, anorexia, cancer, addiction, sexual assault, or depression. We may not be a minority...