These Scripture lessons are three examples of the 137 times the word “mourn’ is used in the New International Version of the Bible. There is solace in knowing people of God once grieved as we do. And so, we will be comforted as they were.

Genesis 49:33-50:3 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people. 50:1 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, 3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

James 4:8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Matthew 2: Selected Verses Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” inners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your 8 laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.