[Anglican Devotional 31 October 2021] Topic: From Sorrow To Joy
TOPIC: From Sorrow To Joy
READ: John 16:21-24 (NKJV)
“A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
THE MESSAGE:
Today’s passage is Jesus’ explanation to the question of and reaction of the disciples concerning His death and resurrection (verses 16-20). Jesus assured the disciples that surely sorrow would come their way like a woman in labour (Isaiah 13:8). But, shortly after His resurrection, they would be filled with joy like that of a newborn baby (verses 21-22). Here, we should notice that God’s joy to His people is transformation and not substitution. It is the same child that brought pains during labour that transformed the sorrow into joy. So also the same Jesus through whom sorrow befell the disciples, would transform their sorrow to joy. Jesus also emphasised prayer to the disciples as a means to get greater joy in Him. He opened their understanding of how to pray according to the will of God (verses 23-24). The collect for today, that is, Trinity XXII, prayed us to always ask our petitions as will please God.
Christians should be aware that there will always be sometimes in our Christian lives when we need to endure hardship, difficulty and suffering. Such times include our periods of sorrow. But after these times, come the periods of joy. It seems Christians are being persecuted now because of their faith, but in a little while, we shall rejoice at last. Also, we should be reminded of the efficacy of prayer in our daily lives. One thing is to pray, another thing is to pray according to the will of God. By so doing, we shall ask God anything in Jesus name, and it shall be granted unto us and our joy will be full.
PRAYER: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5b).
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