Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Could this be the answer to the age old question, “Why does God let these things happen?” How is one to ever know the tender comforts of God unless one needs them. Jesus said he calls not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Jesus said that when he left, he’d give his disciples another Comforter. Is this not also prophecy? Does this affirm that sorrow and mourning shall plague the life of man? So is this plague not truly a blessing? God said that cursed is the ground for thy sake; as if the curse was of some benefit to us.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
John Bunyan in An Acceptable Sacrifice said, “God doth not only prefer such a heart before all sacrifices, nor esteems such a man above heaven and earth; nor yet only desire to be of his acquaintance, but he reserveth for him his chief comforts, his heart-reviving and soul-cherishing cordials. ‘I dwell,’ saith he, with such to revive them, and to support and comfort them, ‘to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones’.
Envious should we be, not piteous, to those that are downcast. For only they that mourn are reserved such comforts and such luxury; not earthly pleasures, but heavenly tonics, soul-satisfying medicine of the great physician. Foolish are we to believe that there is some other way to find the glory of God’s comforts. Be not afraid.
Ezekiel 14:23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.