Good morning people who don’t bail half way through the story.

John 16:20-22 NIV “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 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.”

The death of Jesus must have been devastating beyond words for His disciples. Yes, they had heard Him talk about this time, but their understanding was limited at best.

While the world was rejoicing at seeing Jesus crucified, His disciples were grieving. Talk about a sense of loss! I can’t even imagine it.

Jesus was the One whom they believed to be the Messiah. And maybe they did believe it to a degree. But there was also an element of doubt, especially at the way that it appeared to end.

But it was not the end! Death was not the end! What looked like defeat was not the end!

And when the disciples did encounter the resurrected Christ, it was true – no one could take away their joy!

Your story is not over! It is not finished! You are not done!

Put more accurately, God’s story in your life is not over! God’s work in you has not finished! God is not done in your life, in your family, in your marriage!

God is still on the throne – both in heaven and in the throne of our hearts. And it’s from this victorious position that God is at work in us to fulfil His good pleasure.

So, lift up your eyes my friends. Look to the One who died and rose again. Look to the One who sits on the throne and who is interceding for you.

May your grief be turned to joy as you behold the One who is holding onto you.