Dear Wife, No One Will Take Your Joy

So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you. (John 16:22)

Can you even imagine being in the room when Jesus voiced these words to his disciples? That last line puts a lump in my throat every time I read it. There is a strength—almost a fierceness—to those words. NO ONE will take away your joy from you. It reminds me of Aslan in the Narnia series. There is a lion’s growl behind that promise. Do you hear it?

Friends, our Jesus, Man of Sorrows, has promised that our pain and grief will have an end date. Yes, we have sorrow now. But in that sorrow, we have One who understands–one acquainted with grief, betrayal, heartache, and abandonment. Jesus has walked through more suffering than we could ever comprehend. But he pushed through the sorrow because of the joy set before him in heaven (Heb 12:2). His endurance through sorrow was his gateway to eternal joy. 

Because of Jesus, our sorrow will not last forever. He has crushed death and pain beneath his feet. He will come again. He will set all things to right. Our hearts will rejoice once more. And no one—NO ONE—will be able to take away our joy. 

Oh friends, hold on to this precious promise. Tuck it deep down in your heart like a wildflower seed. Tend the soil, kill the weeds, water it with your tears and your faith more precious than gold. And one day, that promise will bloom in full splendor. What joy is ahead, just beyond the bend. Brighter days are ahead. Let’s stand firm and believe it! 

“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
(C.S. LEWIS)