The JOY of the Lord: Finding joy in grief

As Jesus bids the disciples farewell to fulfill his purpose on the cross, he comforts the disciples. They experienced grief at that time because it felt as though they would lose him, not to see him again. Jesus tells them:

“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22

Grief is a natural human emotion and it is nothing to be ashamed about. Just because you grieve does not mean you do not love and trust the promises of the Lord. Even the disciples grieved. They were promised to see him again. As we grieve today our various losses, be it a parent, a child, a dear friend, a spouse, a confidant, and whomever else you hold dear—we have the promise of JOY. Just as the disciples were informed, you are also informed,

John 16: 13-15: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

The Lord explains how the Holy Spirit will work, that Jesus the son of God, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit work together as one. So when facing grief, though we cannot see or touch Christ on this side of life, we can trust that he is always with us and working on our behalf. Guiding us through life and even the hardest moments of life. We are comforted by the Holy Spirit. It builds our faith to trust what we cannot see or touch. Even more, the Lord explains that believers (like the disciples) will experience JOY coming…

John 16:20-22: “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

How wonderful is it that when something is no longer with you, and you grieve, you will one day experience JOY, and that NO ONE can take that JOY away. As a believer of Christ, as an obedient child of God, your inheritance is great, it is an inheritance that NO ONE can take away. You may mourn now, but you're mourning will not last forever. The Holy Spirit can and will restore. Your heart will be cared for by the Lord and you will experience JOY again.

Prayer Heavenly Father my suffering is great, and my heart is weighted with sorrow. Help me come up for air and breathe again. Although I see now possible way to feel better, I know that you have the power to restore all that is lost. Grant me peace that surpasses all understanding and heal me where I feel broken. Like the disciples Father, help me lean into the Holy Spirit that I may feel JOY and know that you are waiting. Comfort me and give patience to those around me as I mourn, help them love me past my pain until I am able to come up for air. With trust and thanksgiving ~ Amen