stephen R Harrison

JOY 365: Day 14

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. -John 16:22

I had the honor of meeting with several church planters today. Two of them were from Haiti. One of them shared some struggles with me that caused him to question his calling as a pastor and the effectiveness of his church plant. He kept saying, “I just cannot quit. I just cannot quit.” I encouraged him as I quoted a Scripture from the end of 1 Corinthians 15. We must be steadfast because our ministry in the Lord is not in vain. I said, “Pastor, don’t give up. Keep trusting Jesus.” There will be tough times for all of us in life. One pastor today told me he lost his mom last week. Another lost their dad a couple of months ago. One pastor texted about his feelings of discontentment and disappointment in the last couple of days. Amid God at work in tremendous ways, they were experiencing grief and loss of joy. 

I thought about the joy and grief that ministry has brought to my life. One Scripture I thought of while reliving my own times of discouragement was John 16:22. Jesus knew they would face sorrow. That’s why he said the word joy four times and rejoice twice in that passage. He told his disciples that grief was temporary. He assured them he would see them again after he went away, and that should cause them to rejoice. Then he added something remarkable, “No one will take away your joy.” Joy is eternal. We must remember that. Jesus’ victory over the cross, death, sin, and the grave secures and assures joy instead of hopelessness. We must hold on during the valley. We must not give up during dark times. He will come again. We will be with him forever. This will cause eternal rejoicing like never before.

What temporary sorrow attempts to steal your eternal joy?