It seems, in the midst of grief and mourning, one of the last things we think about is Joy.
Joy and grief are never far apart. In the same street the shutters of one house are closed, while the curtains of the next are brushed by shadow of the dance. A wedding-party returns from church, and a funeral winds to its door. The smiles and the sadness of life are the tragi-comedy of Shakespeare. Gladness and sighs brighten and dim the mirror he beholds.
The Struggle is Guaranteed! UGH!
Let’s be honest, before we even coined the term COVID-19, because of the world we live in, we were all experiencing some level of grief and mourning. My family was adjusting to the ups and downs of my husband’s recent forced retirement, the death of a beloved uncle, concern for a daughter-in-love due to have a baby, and more.
What were you struggling through? The struggle is a guarantee. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation…
Look at the last half of John 16:
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
I Have Overcome the World
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Are the JOYS Guaranteed? I certainly Hope So!
Let’s be honest, before we even coined the term Covid-19, because of the world we live in, some of us were experiencing profound joys. My family was actually enjoying the ups and downs of my husband’s recent forced retirement; and while we miss my uncle, it has been such a blessing to reconnect and visit with cousins; our son and daughter-in-love gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl; and more.
What were your greatest joys? The joys don’t seem to be guaranteed.
Or are they?
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.
I wanted to explore all sorts of passages in God’s Word to comfort you and assure you that JOY abounds even during our times of distress, but I never made it out of John Chapter 16! Go figure! It’s packed with HOPE and JOY! May we be able to contain it!
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
JOY is Guaranteed!
God promises JOY – we will see Him!
John 16:16, 22 “…again a little while, and you will see Me.”
God promises JOY – He knows what we want!
John 16:19 “Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so He said to them,…”
God promises JOY – from our sorrows!
John 16:20 ”…the world will rejoice… and your sorrow will turn into joy.”
God promises JOY – from remembering anguish!
John 16:21 “…she no longer remembers the anguish,…”
God promises JOY – He Protects and Preserves our JOY!
John 16:22 “…no one will take your joy from you.”
God promises JOY – If We Ask for JOY, He Will Give it to Us!
John 16:23, 24 “…whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He will give it to you.”
God promises JOY – He has Overcome the World! John 16:25-33
John 16:32-33 “…I am not alone, for the Father is with Me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
How about you?
I don’t know about you, but I lose sight of His Promises during times of struggle like these. I’m going to post this one on the wall right beside my desk, my nightstand beside my bed, my makeup tray – maybe I just need to have it tattooed to my right arm or above my heart!
Thank YOU, Lord for Your Promise of JOY!
I LOVE YOU!
References:
Bible
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Quotes
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About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
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