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Joy in the Promise

Read: John 16:19–24

SOAP: John 16:22

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Jesus made a promise to His disciples that continues to bring us great joy today. The disciples were chatting with one another, off to the side, and Jesus answered a question they had not asked Him directly. Jesus had told them that He would go and come again, and they were struggling to understand what He meant. Although Jesus would be crucified and die, He would return to see them again. And He did! One day, we will also see Jesus return, but until that day, we can find joy knowing that “Promise-Keeper” is an unchanging characteristic of our God.

In our verses today, Jesus told the disciples that, although they were experiencing sorrow because He was going to leave them, with a change in perspective and focus, those same circumstances filled them with joy. When we change our perspective, our sorrows can become our joy, our reason for rejoicing. The things that cause us pain become the avenues God uses to bring lasting joy into our lives. 

Jesus is a promise kept. His birth, every detail of it, was planned and prophesied and perfectly orchestrated so that there would be no doubt that He was the promised Messiah. Jesus’ death and resurrection completed another part of the promise, and we can find joy as we celebrate that no scheme of humans will ever ruin what God has put into motion. We will see Jesus again, and no one can take that joy from us!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for so carefully and thoughtfully planning every part of the promise You made to send us a Redeemer. May my joy be found in You alone, knowing that sorrow is temporary, but the joy is eternal. Amen.