[vc_row height=”small” el_class=”dailyBody” css=”.vc_custom_1465516518912{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][us_image image=”27681″ size=”tnail-1×1″][ultimate_heading main_heading_color=”#5fc8d7″ sub_heading_color=”#5fc8d7″ alignment=”left” main_heading_font_family=”font_family:Allerta|font_call:Allerta” main_heading_style=”font-style:italic;” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:16px;” sub_heading_style=”font-style:italic;,font-weight:bold;” sub_heading_font_size=”desktop:16px;” main_heading_line_height=”desktop:15px;” sub_heading_line_height=”desktop:22px;” margin_design_tab_text=””]
It’s precisely through the lament and in the tears, where we receive true comfort.
[/ultimate_heading][us_separator height=”20px” size=”custom”][us_sharing providers=”email,facebook,twitter,gplus”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
I think everyone is a liar at some level. Just think about how many times this week you’ve answered the question, “How are you?” by covering up the truth, even ever so slightly. It’s fascinating and frustrating how many of us walk around trying to deceive both others and ourselves. We want others to notice our intelligence, our strength, and our competence. And, we want to believe those about ourselves too. Just peruse social media posts for a second. It’s full of people communicating the best and most presentable parts of life.
Okay. So, maybe we’re not all intentionally lying and deceiving ourselves, but we certainly want others to see the best and most presentable parts. When we start getting real and becoming transparent, we give others the ability to hurt us. It’s feels safer to keep things positive and picture perfect. But sadly, if we refuse to open up and allow others into the messy and unpresentable parts, we also refuse the comfort, love, and true healing we need most. We all desire to be known, valued, and loved. But to get there, we have let others share in the raw and difficult parts of life too.
In the list of Beatitudes, Jesus states, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Mourning is an experience of deep sorrow – sadness over a loss, frustration, disappointment, or painful wounding. Sorrow is one of those things we try to cover up. Instead of handling it with honesty and vulnerability, we feel bad about our complaints and we apology for our tears. But, it’s precisely through the lament and in the tears, where we receive true comfort. Jesus says, “we will be comforted,” because he is the source of true comfort. This is why we need others to be Jesus to us in those times. We need the body of Christ to be Christ to us by receiving our tears and hearing our laments – not to correct us or make us feel bad – but to love us in the pain and the suffering. Today, share your lament with someone you trust or invite someone else to share theirs with you. Church as body is the safe place where we can sit with each other in pain and sorrow to give and receive the healing comfort we truly need.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]
By Yvonne Biel
[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″]
[/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
