From Sorrow to Joy
John 16:16-24 (NIV)
16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 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. 22 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. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
In the earlier devotions this week, we’ve reflected on two powerful truths: God’s covenant promise symbolized by the rainbow in Genesis, and our response of obedience in Deuteronomy. Together, they show us a faithful God who keeps His word and invites us to walk closely with Him. Today in John 16, Jesus speaks to His disciples in a moment of deep confusion and coming sorrow. He tells them, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” The disciples don’t understand however Jesus knows what lies ahead: the cross, the grief, and then the resurrection. To help them grasp this, Jesus uses the image of a woman in labor; pain that is real, intense, and unavoidable, yet leading to something beautiful and life-giving. The sorrow is not the end of the story. This ties to what we’ve already seen. In Genesis, the storm gave way to the rainbow. In Deuteronomy, reverence led to obedience—a path that leads to life. In today’s scripture, sorrow gives way to joy in a transformation which only Christ can bring. Jesus is showing us that God’s covenant is not only about what He promises or what we do in response. It’s about what He produces within us over time.
It is likely we have all experienced seasons in our lives when God felt distant, when we struggled with clarity, and when sorrow lingered after a loss. Just like the disciples, we may at times be confused about what Jesus is telling us. God’s promises remind us He is faithful. God’s commands guide us in how to live. Jesus’ words assure us that even our sorrow has purpose and “Joy is coming”. When we are in a time in life when we aren’t feeling that joy, it is important to not lose heart because God is still working and the story is still unfolding. The rainbow will reappear, the obedient path still leads to live, and in Christ, sorrow never has the final word. There will be Joy in the Morning!
Lori Zenikovich
