We have all experienced it.  We don’t like it.  We are miserable in it.  We long for it to stop.  In the middle of it we feel less than we should, wondering what we did wrong while dwelling in deep sorrow because of it.  What is it?  Sadness.  Sadness can make us physically ill.  Sadness feels dark, with no light in sight.  Sadness drives who we are and what we do when we consider nothing else but the sadness.  Death of a loved one brings a sadness that is deeper still.  Sadness is a dark cloud that seemingly will not lift bringing a fog that confuses our minds, tenders our hearts and is felt deep in our souls.

Jesus warns his followers of this sadness with a lesson in gladness.  “You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.”  We, who know the rest of the story know where Jesus is headed and what He will do for the world.  But his followers do not know—yet.  They are right in the middle of it all and don’t know what is coming.  So, Jesus, concerned for them, is meeting their sadness need before they even know they will need help.

Friends, Isn’t that just like Jesus?  He meets our needs before we know we need Him?  He goes before us, behind us and beside us at all times.  This is how sadness develops into gladness—by trusting Jesus!  Jesus, Son of God, died for our sins but then rose again, defeating death for all of us!  This is the Gladness part.  This is our hope! 

“When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions.” –Jesus  

WHAT A PROMISE! 

John—God’s Love

John 16:

¹⁶ “In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me.”

Joy Like a River Overflowing

^17-18 That stirred up a hornet’s nest of questions among the disciples: “What’s he talking about: ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? And, ‘Because I’m on my way to the Father’? What is this ‘day or so’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

^19-20 Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.

^21-23 “When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there’s no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you’ll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You’ll no longer be so full of questions.

^23-24 “This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

^25-28 “I’ve used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I’ll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I’ve revealed to you. I won’t continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won’t need to. Because you’ve gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father.”

^29-30 His disciples said, “Finally! You’re giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won’t have to put up with our questions anymore. We’re convinced you came from God.”

^31-33 Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

Jesus reveals more sadness to gladness promises…

• “Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you.”
• I won’t continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won’t need to. Because you’ve gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly.
• I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

Trusting Jesus makes us unshakable and assured, deeply at peace!  Did you get that?  Does this excite you as much as it fills my soul?  Trust is assurance—unshakable assurance with the by-product of peace! 

Want peace?  Trust God!  He knows what He is doing!

Lord,

Thank you for this encouragement, this lesson is trust that leads to unshakable assurance with the light of your peace that dispels the darkness of sadness.  We do “take heart” this morning just know and believing in what you said.  Continue to teach us, Lord.  Show us your ways of thinking.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we’re singing… Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies) Chris Tomlin

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

My strength is in Your name
For You alone can save
You will deliver me
Yours is the victory

Whom then shall I fear…