January 31 Devotion - Your sorrow will be turned into Joy

² ……. “Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. ³ And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. ⁴ But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

………. ²⁰ Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, …and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.”

سَيَأْتِي وَقْتٌ يَظُنُّ فِيهِ مَنْ يَقْتُلُكُمْ أَنَّهُ يُؤَدِّي خِدْمَةً لِلهِ.

 ³ وَهُمْ يَفْعَلُونَ هَذَا بِكُمْ لأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوا أَبِي، وَلاَ عَرَفُونِي.

 ⁴ قُلْتُ لَكُمْ هَذَا حَتَّى مَتَى جَاءَ وَقْتُ حُدُوثِهِ تَذْكُرُونَ أَنَّهُ سَبَقَ أَنْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ. ²⁰ الْحَقَّ الْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ: إِنَّكُمْ سَتَبْكُونَ وَتَنُوحُونَ.... إِنَّكُمْ سَتَحْزَنُونَ، وَلكِنَّ حُزْنَكُمْ سَيَتَحَوَّلُ إِلَى فَرَحٍ.

John 16: 2-3

John 16: 20

As we hear of Christians being killed in many parts of the world because of their faith, we are grieved and we reflect on the question:

What is the greatest sorrow or suffering a Christian believer could have in life?

We are taught in the Bible that it is not physical sorrow, but rather, it is spiritual sorrow. The quenching of the faith of a Christian causes more sorrow to the Christian than the physical pain. Those who do that to a Christian; whether because they are a non believer or a misguided so called ‘christian’ deceitful worker; it is better for him: ‘if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.’  Matthew 18:6

As Christian believers redeemed by the blood of Christ, our real joy is in knowing that we will be spending eternity with our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who has promised us:

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.

فَكَذلِكَ أَنْتُمْ، تَحْزَنُونَ الآنَ؛ وَلكِنْ عِنْدَمَا أَعُودُ لِلِقَائِكُمْ، تَبْتَهِجُ قُلُوبُكُمْ، وَلاَ أَحَدَ يَسْلُبُكُمْ فَرَحَكُمْ.

John 16:22

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. Father, I pray for the families of those that have lost loved ones in the name of Christ, that You will comfort them and console them and put peace in their hearts. I pray for everyone suffering, whether physically or spiritually, help us Lord to keep our focus on You. I pray for everyone who has still not known Your Son Jesus as Lord and Saviour that they will open their hearts to Him as He knocks on the door and waits for them to open. Thank You Jesus that our hearts will rejoice and that our joy will be forever lasting. Amen. 

   Jesus Loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein