Read John 16:20-24 ESV
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 to joy. 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 the joy that a human being has been born into this world. 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. 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. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Jesus uses the example of a mother giving birth and the joy that is experienced after the painful process of delivery. I was a front-row witness to labor and delivery as a labor coach for my daughter about one year ago. It was hard to see my child in pain, crying out, afraid…This was not a joyous adventure for any of us. I prayed fervently, asking in Jesus’ Name for God to take the pain away. The pain did not let up. My daughter had an epidural, she had medicine, she was repositioned, still the pain remained. It was a process she had to go through to become a mother. Has she forgotten all of this pain and suffering? Most of it, but more importantly she admits… her daughter was “worth it!”
Jesus says the same thing! We are worth it! Because of all His pain and suffering, we are now able to rejoice in having a relationship with the Lord!
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus! Our hearts shall rejoice; We will not let anyone take away our joy! Amen
