Sad - Comfort

Lately I have been sad. Not really depressed, but sad. Sad for my children and grandchildren. Sad for others. Sad for myself. Some things I can talk about with others, and some things I can't because they are too personal. I am reading a book called "Queen of the Castle" by Lynn Bowen Walker. She has a wonderful chapter on prayer. I will quote a little from it.

"I don't know what's wrong," I said to my husband recently as I worked in the kitchen. "I'm feeling kind of blue." "That's because you're mourning," he answered. He's right. Friends and family have experienced more than their share of troubles lately, and it takes its toll. My husband has been studying the Beatitudes in his Bible study group, the "blessed are the..."s found in Matthew 5:3-11. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted," says Jesus in Matthew 5:4. I need to recognize my mourning. I need to see my sadness for what it is: a valid, hurting response to pain experienced by people I love. And I need to bring my mourning to the God of comfort, so He can wrap His loving arms around me as I turn to Him in prayer.

This is why we should go to God first. We should go to God for comfort, healing, strength, wisdom, and all the rest. Wow, do we need those things in this world we live in!