Sorrow will turn into Joy – Br. David Vryhof
John 16: (16-23a) 23b-28
It’s difficult these days not to read every gospel text from the perspective of those whose lives have been so drastically altered by the coronavirus. Encountering this text from John 16, the word that captured my attention was the word “joy.” “You will have pain,” Jesus tells his disciples, “but your pain will turn into joy” (v. 20). Of course he is talking here of the pain the disciples will experience when Jesus is separated from them as he goes forward to his passion and death. “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while and you will see me,” he says (v. 17). He knows they will suffer; he knows that the events of the coming days will test and try them; and he knows he cannot protect them from this pain. But he wants to keep their eyes fixed not on the pain, but on the joy that is to come.
“You will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.” To help them grasp this promise, he offers the example of a woman in childbirth. The pain of birthing a child is intense, “but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world” (v. 21) There is joy on the other side of this suffering, he promises. “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joyfrom you”(v. 22).
“The Father himself loves you,” he assures them, and therefore they can ask for whatever they need in his name and the Father will give it to them (v. 23-27). “Ask and you will receive,” he tells them, “so that your joy may be complete” (v. 24). Once again, God intends joy for his people, not endless sorrow, and God will provide all that they need to find real and lasting joy.
We – that is, all of us – have experienced pain in this time of coronavirus. Many have experienced significant loss and grief. The experience of suffering is an unavoidable part of the human condition. And yet, even in suffering, we can look forward to the joy of deliverance. As the psalmist says, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Ps. 30:5). God has promised to be an abiding presence with us in suffering and to wait and watch and work with us through the long night until the morning light comes again. God longs to draw close to us in these times, to know and fulfill the hidden desires of our hearts, to be with us as we wait for hope and light and life to return – all this, Jesus says, ”so that your joy may be complete.”
Lift your eyes, then, above and beyond the suffering of the present moment, however you are experiencing it, to see the hope and promise of God that ‘your joy may be complete.’ Know that God’s purpose and intention is for you to experience life abundantly, and to find deep and abiding joy in him. Keep your eyes fixed on the joy that is yours as a child of God, and the fuller joy that is to come. Imagine and long for that day when “your joy [will] be complete.”
Really timely message that I shared with others today. Thanks for carrying such a beautiful message about Jesus presence being our ultimate joy..the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Recently I have been exposed to J. Todd Billings’ writings. Rejoice in Lament is one. Our Healing Prayer Ministry had a rich discussion on how to honor all the feelings around Lament, in particular when we lay hands on those who come to us for Healing Prayer. As a recent chemo patient, I have learned much about lament. I was not ready to hear, “don’t worry. You will soon be well.” Those who listened and validated my feelings, in the moment, gave me the most relief.
Thank you for your words today brought me to tears. After several months of starts and stops I am waiting for a biopsy report this week. And the joy comes from those who are able to walk this journey with me and the presence I feel walking with me who are no longer here. Thank you🙂
Thank you. A needed message to hear yet again…… still waiting…
Your message gives us eternal PEACE. I can feel it reading your words and
Maybe even hearing your calm voice. Thank you.
Thank you, Brother David!
Your message is as welcome to my heart this morning as the little House Wren’s effervescent song spilling out
of his tiny beak, right outside my window!! Bless you this day and always! Marynelle
Dear Brother David, thank you for this reminder to focus on the joy that will certainly arrive for us all.
I had a vision once of being in heaven and surrounded by countless hosts of others. We were singing, worshiping our Heavenly Father, as if our very natures were entirely filled with love. The worship poured out of us like torrents of water. That is the greatest joy I have ever experienced.