16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
John 16:16-22
If you could choose, to be with your loved ones, see them often, or not be with your beloved ones? We always choose to be with our loved ones! But in real life, family members often have to go elsewhere, and the brief separation may make us sad, and we always look forward to the day we meet again.
While facing the anxiety of separation, do we understand why our beloved one has to leave for a short time? A child may not understand why a parent is working outside the home, leaving the child in a childcare center or in the care of grandparents. When a little child can understand why his parents need to go out to work, he will know more about his parents’ love and become more understanding, supportive, and delighted with his parents!
When the Lord Jesus was about to leave the disciples, He shared the troubles in his heart with the disciples. The disciples did not understand, they were unwilling to let Jesus go, and their hearts were saddened! Do you understand why the Lord Jesus left the disciples?
Jesus Christ came with a mission in His life! On the cross, he declared “It is finished!” After the resurrection, he said he would ascend to the Father. He would sit at the right hand of the Father, he would receive all authority in heaven and earth, and he would go to prepare a place for us! If we understand why the Lord Jesus left, we will turn from sorrow to hope and joy!
How many times we didn’t understand why the Lord Jesus didn’t answer our prayers right away, as if we couldn’t find him! “Lord, where are you? Why don’t you hear my prayers? Why can’t you help me right away?” On the surface, Jesus seems to have left us, but in fact, He is still making all things work together for our good! When we meet Jesus Christ again, many questions are answered and our joy will be full! Not only do we have the Lord with us, we understand what He has done for us! No one can take this joy away! Not only because the Lord has done great things for us, but because we really understand it! We really see him in person! No one can take this joy away!
Prayer:
Dear Lord! Thank you for loving me and giving yourself up for me! Sometimes I don’t seem to be able to find you, I don’t understand my sufferings, I don’t know why you put me in trials! But thank you for giving me the best! Thank you for devoting yourself to me! Let me not rely on sight, let my faith see through dark clouds, let my joy be full because of your presence and no one can take this joy away!
Raisins & Apples Bible Devotional & more 