“Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one is going to take your joy away from you.”
– John‬ ‭16:22‬

This passage in the gospel of John, chapter 16, is when Jesus was telling His disciples about His coming death and resurrection. He was also grieving, and rightfully so when we think of how He knew the pain and suffering He was about to endure for our sins.

Over the last month or more, I’ve really been focused on joy, and many of the ways it is used and referred to in the word of God. This verse made me think about something my men’s small group (Bible study group) discussed, especially from my friend, Orion.

Orion mentioned that he had recently been thinking about Peter, and the joy he had when Jesus appeared on the Sea of Galilee (John 21) after His resurrection, the moment he was filled with joy, threw himself into the Sea to get to Jesus. Peter had denied Jesus three times, knowingly failed Him, and was torn up with shame and guilt… but then full of joy, so much that he couldn’t wait to complete fishing even though they weren’t a great distance from Jesus.

Peter went on to have a conversation with Jesus in which the Lord told Him about the way he would die, but also giving him commands to share the Gospel of Christ. Having the joy of the Lord doesn’t preclude us from stress or troubles in life, but it gives us hope, strength, and the knowledge of true love and salvation!