Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. John 16:20
Finding joy is difficult for most people. Everywhere one looks there appears to be trouble and sorrow. People run to entertainment of very type in order to find something to be glad about, to pull them out of their world of trouble and pain. During the short few moments of entertainment, people will laugh and have a little joy, forgetting their troubles for a short moment.
John records Jesus talking about the end times and His leaving. He tells the people that they will weep in great sorrow while the world rejoices, but in the end their sorrow will be exchanged for joy.
As the world denies any belief in Jesus, they have to drown their sorrows that they are facing in something. Imagination runs wild to allow one to do whatever it takes to remove the sorrow. Every sin imaginable is embraced to bring a false sense of joy.
While believers are experiencing many of the same troubles the world faces, they also must face persecution. The world stands against the believer and does what it can to destroy the believer, bringing great sorrow to those who believe in Christ. The believer’s heart is in pain at seeing all the sin in the world.
Although there is great sorrow right now in the heart of the believer, there is coming a day when that sorrow will be turned to joy. When Jesus returns, all sin will be destroyed, and eternal life will be given to those who believe in and follow Jesus. There is no greater joy that a person can experience than when one steps into eternity with the Father, never to sin again or face sin again.
Looking at all the sin around you may break your heart, along with having to deal with all the struggles of life. Sorrow for sin around you and what you have done weighs heavy upon your heart. Although things are bad right now, you have a hope of a great future someday. There will be a day when Jesus returns, and you are transformed and brought home to heaven for all eternity. At that point, all the sorrow you had will be changed for eternal joy.
Don’t give up but wait for that day of rejoicing to come.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will look to God for strength in times of great sorrow; that you will know the hope you have in Jesus; and that God will fill your heart with His joy.
****My new book, “31 Day For Strength,” is now available on Amazon ****
Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash
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