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Friday May 19th: Jesus, Our Hope and Joy

Even amid deep sorrow, there is hope for a brighter future.

John 16: 20 – 23

Jesus says to the disciples, “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.” Sorrow is such a difficult and painful emotion. People who are sorrowful seem inconsolable. Some people lose loved ones, and they are sorrowful for an extended period, even years. Sorrow is not an easy emotion to deal with or get over.

But Jesus is saying today that the disciples’ sorrow will be temporary. It will pass and eventually give way to something greater; in this case joy. Even during deep sorrow, there is hope for a brighter future. The Psalmist says that sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes with dawn. (Psalm 30: 5). This is absolutely true for those who trust in Jesus, who is our hope and joy. In Him there will be no more tears, no more sorrow and no more pain. (Revelation 21: 4).

Jesus is not trivialising His disciples’ pain or dismissing their grief. He is assuring them that their sorrow is not the end.