Dear Christian friends:

We usually shun trouble and sadness. We see it as something we should avoid. When it happens to us we complain and see not the reason or purpose for it. But God lets trouble happen to us. He has good reason and purpose by letting that trouble happen to us. In our text Jesus tells us about that. But He also tells us that the troubles will last only a short time and after that we will have joy, true joy that no one can take from us. So, let us attend to Jesus' words here and learn about:

We fail to understand and believe that our troubles are only for a short time. In our text Jesus tells His disciples on the evening before He is crucified that for a short time they would not see Him and then again in a short time they will see Him. He says they will weep and be sad while the world rejoices. But then they would after a short time see Him again and be very glad. Jesus meant that tomorrow, Good Friday, He would be crucified. That will be a sad time for Him and them. But in a few days He will rise from death and then He will be glad and they will be glad. But the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. And they did not believe Him. When He died on the cross they thought He would stay dead and that would be the end of His kingdom and the end of their hopes. So, they remained in sadness and gave up all hope during the short time Jesus suffered and died and lay in the tomb.

We, too, when sorrow and troubles come to us fail to understand and believe that they are only for a short time, and we fail to believe that God loves us during the trouble. We doubt that he will help us and save us. Our trouble is too much! We can't find any way to escape! We think God has forgotten us and that He doesn't want us. The devil tries to tempt us to give up faith and hope in God, and search for help in wrong ways: maybe lie, maybe steal, maybe kill someone or other evil way to find escape. So Peter warns us about that. (Read 1 Peter 5:8-11)

These short times of trouble are necessary. It was necessary that Jesus suffer and die so that He could win forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation for us. While His sufferings and death seemed terrible it was necessary and good for us. If Jesus had not suffered and died on the cross we couldn't be saved. God, the Father, seemed very cruel to Jesus, but He must forsake Him and punish Him.

Short times of trouble are necessary for us, too. We do not earn forgiveness of sins by our sufferings. That only Jesus can do and has finished doing. But God lets these troubles happen to us so that we may know that we are His children and remain His dear children. If God had not let troubles happen to us, we would quickly forget Him, and not be sorry about our sins, and not pray to Him for help and deliverance. St. Paul says, "But when we are judged(punished), we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." And David writes in Psalm 119, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statuses." (Tell personal story of Aunt Christine and her arm loss!)

Our parents often corrected us when we disobeyed because they loved us and wanted to learn to do rightly and live rightly, and we respected our parents and accepted their correction. So, God loves us and often corrects us by letting troubles happen to us for a short time. Let us not despair, but respect Him and be glad that He loves us so much that He watches over us and corrects us so we will not get condemned with the World. And remember Jesus' promise here: (1 Peter 1:6-7)

The short time of sadness will end and we shall have great joy! "Your sorrow will change to joy!" As Jesus did on Easter morning and the disciples later on Easter evening when they saw Jesus. (John 20:19-31)

Jesus tells of a woman expecting a baby and how she has sorrow before it is born. But after the baby is finished being born, then she quickly forgets the pain and sorrow and is very happy about the new baby. So, we have sorrow and troubles for a short time, but God has not forgotten us. He will help us and save us, and we will have very much joy.

Also when we must die we have hope that we shall live again. Our sickness and dying continues only a short time, and then we awake to see Jesus in full glory and we shall arise with heavenly bodies that cannot get sick, or old or die anymore. Then we shall have perfect joy. Joy that no one can take away from us. David says in Psalm, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures forevermore." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

So, let Jesus' words here give you encouragement and hope when you have troubles. Your troubles last only a very short time and your sorrows will be turned to joy, joy everlasting and perfect.

Amen.

Bible References:

1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Psalms 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

1 Peter 5:8-11 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 1:6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Hebrews 12:2-11 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. God Disciplines His Children

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!

10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.