Your pain will turn into joy

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Joy

CalledOut Music

Today is Friday the 15th of May, in the sixth week of Easter.

CalledOut Music sings, ‘Joy’. Take a moment to get in touch with that joy we find in Christ. What image would you give this joy?

My Light and salvation, it's You

I've got a firm foundation in You, Lord

You hold me daily, daily

The hope for my soul

I'm ever so safe here with You

I got Grace everywhere I be

With blessings falling on me

There's nothing too hard for the God that I serve

Tell me why should I be afraid?

No matter what comes my way

I'll overcome with a smile on my face

I got that joy like a river flowing down to my soul

I feel like dancing, I feel it in my bones

I sing, I sing, Lord

It feels like a dream

'Cause with You on my team

I'm winning

Nothing's going to hold me back

Nothing's going to stop my praise

Nothing's going to keep me silent

I'll say it from the rooftops

I got grace everywhere I be

With blessings falling on me

There's nothing too hard for the God that I serve

Tell me why should I be afraid?

No matter what comes my way

I'll overcome with a smile on my face

I got that joy like a river flowing down to my soul

I feel like dancing, I feel it in my bones

Joy like a river flowing down, down, down, down…

I got joy like a river flowing down, down, down, down…

I got that joy like a river flowing down to my soul

2:39

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 16:20-23

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 labour, 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.

4:13

Transcendentals

Jesus makes strong contrasts in this passage. The most obvious one is between feelings of pain and suffering and feelings of joy. But he also contrasts feelings that pass with feelings that last. What, in your life, have been the joys that were short and fleeting, the joys that didn’t last?

What, on the other hand, has given you lasting joy in your life?

Jesus talks about a woman giving birth, and how the pain of childbirth passes, but the joy of bringing a human being into the world remains. Perhaps you have given birth yourself. What times of personal pain or suffering can you recall, that, in the end, you thought were worth it? Where was God in those experiences?

As you hear the reading again, listen to the promise. Listen to what it is that Jesus is promising to you.

8:14

John 16:20-23

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 labour, 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.

9:34

“No one will take your joy from you”. Can you give thanks to God now for the sources of deep and lasting joy in your life?

11:43

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen