Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

John 16:16-24 (NRSV)

“A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.” Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”

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Reflect

I’ve been a part of the births of all of my four children, and each one was different in one way or another. Out of anticipation, we did everything possible to prepare for our first child. Our second child was ready and eager to see us and came early! From conception to delivery, everything about our third child was a surprise. As for the youngest, we discovered you can spoil a child even in the womb.

While each birth was different in some way, there were three constants…pain, anxiety, and joy. While my wife endured the physical pain of childbirth, I endured the empathetic pain as her caregiver. In delivery, there were two times when we were truly scared either for the life of my wife or our child. I can’t imagine the anxiety my wife experienced listening to me say, “Just a little further” or “You’re almost there” or “Only a little while longer.” While I’ll never know the joy of motherhood, how great it must be to surpass my joy as a father.

Christians today experience a type of childbirth when following Christ. There is pain in the labor of living through a broken world awaiting redemption. Don’t be fooled; we were never promised a life without pain. In the midst of our discomfort, we ask how long exactly a little while is. Some say we’re almost there, just keep pushing toward the goal. Others say wait a little bit. There is anxiety when the Word is absent from our lives. Our pain reminds us of a new coming relationship with Christ. While our suffering may seem like an eternity, just like the joy of a new baby, Christ’s presence is timeless. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning!

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Pray

God, we cry out to you in pain because we often feel alone. We are anxious for your return and to join you in your coming kingdom. As you reveal your presence today, give us joy. Amen.

Go with God.