It's amazing how quickly we forget, when we're mourning, that Jesus is not detached from us — that He is actually with us, comforting us.
We always end up recognizing that Jesus was with us all along. 🙏
Another border crossed. The rig has left the Flemish polders and rests tonight in the Netherlands, among the woods and heath of Hilvarenbeek in North Brabant. Three countries in four nights — and one Comforter in every one of them.
Last night the swallow rested on the wing. Tonight Smith shows us who holds her up: Jesus, anointed and appointed to comfort.
And Le wrote down the thing every mourner learns late: we always end up recognizing that Jesus was with us all along.
That is the whole Bible's experience. Jacob woke from his stony pillow and said: Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not (Genesis 28:16).
Mary Magdalene stood weeping at the tomb, and Jesus was standing right there — and knew not that it was Jesus — until He said her name (John 20:14-16).
The two on the Emmaus road walked seven miles beside Him in their grief, but their eyes were holden. Only afterward did they say: Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way? (Luke 24:16, 32).
Grief clouds the eyes. It never moves Him away. He is not detached — He is the One walking beside us on the road, waiting for us to look up.
"The Lord's people are all mourners. Grace sets and keeps them mourning — over sin committed, depravity discovered, evidences needed, comforts forfeited and lost, apparent uselessness, the sins of others, the state of the church, or for the salvation of relatives and friends. We mourn after Jesus when we do not enjoy His love, and over Him as suffering when we do."
James Smith · On Isaiah 61:2"Grace sets and keeps them mourning." Not despair — tenderness. A heart that grace has touched feels more, not less.
"We mourn after Jesus when we do not enjoy His love, and over Him as suffering when we do." Even our joy has tears in it — the tears of those who know what the cross cost. Zechariah 12:10: they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him.
"But He has declared, 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.' Jesus Himself is anointed and appointed to be our Comforter. He has been given the tongue of the learned, that He may speak a word in season to the weary. He comforts us by pardoning our sins, subduing our iniquities, restoring the joys of our salvation, employing us in His service, and making us successful. He comforts us by His Word, His servants, and His Spirit."
James Smith · On Isaiah 61:2"Anointed." Isaiah 61:1 — The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me. Anointed is Mashiach in Hebrew, Christos in Greek. The very name Christ means "the One anointed" — and Isaiah says what for: to comfort.
In Nazareth, Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read this passage aloud (Luke 4:18-21). And He stopped in the middle of verse 2 — after the acceptable year of the LORD — and closed the book. He did not read the day of vengeance. Then He said: This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. He came first with the year of favour.
"The tongue of the learned." Isaiah 50:4: that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. Not many words. The right word, at the right time. Le has known that — the verse on the wall, the song on waking, the hymn her mother sang.
"By His Word, His servants, and His Spirit." Jesus called the Spirit another Comforter (John 14:16). Another — because He Himself was the first. On October 4 we wrote: the Comforter walks. Tonight we learn there are two of them, and both walk with us.
"Admire the wisdom of God in the Person appointed; the love of God in the work to which He is appointed; and the faithfulness of God in the permanence of His office. He ever lives — and lives to comfort us. Sweet view of Jesus — let us dwell upon it."
James Smith · On Isaiah 61:2"He ever lives." Hebrews 7:25: he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Smith adds: and to comfort them. The office never closes. No night shift is unstaffed.
And what does the comfort look like? Isaiah 61:3, the very next verse: to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Three exchanges. He takes the ashes, the mourning, the heaviness — and gives back beauty, joy, and praise. 🙏
"We always end up recognizing that Jesus was with us all along."
Le · Hilvarenbeek · October 14, 2026 · Not detached — beside us on the road. He ever lives, and lives to comfort usBlessed Mourners
Grace makes the heart tender, not hard. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
With Us All Along
Jacob, Mary at the tomb, the road to Emmaus. Grief clouds the eyes; it never moves Him away.
Another Comforter
Jesus the first, the Spirit the second. Both walk with us, in every country.
Beauty for Ashes
Joy for mourning, praise for heaviness. He ever lives — and lives to comfort us.