“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 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 16:21-22 NIV).
In these verses, the Lord Jesus uses the analogy of childbirth to convey the message of hope and assurance to the apostles and us in the midst of angst and confusion. He illustrates the temporary nature of sorrow and that in the wake of it, joy will follow. The Lord gives them a heads up, that at His imminent departure they will experience sadness, but their grief will be transformed into everlasting joy when they are reunited with Him.
Demonstrating the natural process of childbirth, which is accompanied by pain and anguish, it reflects the reality of human experiences, that the disciples' and us do encounter. The apostles' impending sorrow upon the Lord's looming departure, just as a woman's labor pains precede the birth of a child, their sorrow is a prelude to a profound joy of seeing the Lord again. When the baby arrives, the mother doesn’t remember the anguish anymore for the joy of a new life being born. The same joy we have by faith being redeemed by the Lord. Isaiah prophesied for our assurance, as it is written: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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