Articles
Unshaken Joy
UNSHAKEN JOY
John 16:20-22
20 "Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
21 "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
22 "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
As dark and vexing was the day they took Him away, so, even more, the joy surged when He stood before them alive on resurrection day! Jesus spoke of unshaken joy—your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
Regardless of what the apostles faced from that day on, the world with all of its opposition could never shake, diminish, or skew their faith and joy. Through their pen, Christians can gain and retain a glimpse of that joy to come when He returns to take us away with Him.
The words of a child are written on the sidewalk near my house to not be sad because, “…it cannot rain forever,” so Peter penned in 1 Peter 4:13:
“but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
Brethren, keep your thoughts upon things above and the great things to come!
--Steven J. Wallace
