“‘Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…
“’A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.’ So some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What is this that he says to us, “A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”; and, “because I am going to the Father”?.. What does he mean by “a little while”? We do not know what he is talking about.’ Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,.. ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you… Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.'” John 16:7,13a,16-24
Confusion swirled in the Teachers’ faithful disciples. He was going where they could not follow, but would prepare a place for them there? He himself was the way there? Why did He say His soul was troubled, but keep telling them not to be troubled? Much was not understood before the resurrection, then glorification of Jesus and coming of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus explained what they could handle at the time with their limited spiritual capacity. One day soon the Spirit would make these things clear, and jumble would turn to joy. (John 12:27,32-33; 13:36; 14:1-6,27)
The Lord always tells the truth, and always enough of the truth to prepare us for what is coming, but our limited minds cannot always understand His words. This side of the Cross, believers have the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit and His discernment, yet still, things we hear and experience do not always easily make sense. The Lord Jesus welcomes our questions and knows those unspoken.
And He has all the answers. He who is from everlasting to everlasting knows beginning from end, and promises to bring resolution. What chaos is stealing space and peace in our hearts? What questions and confusion stir stress or fear? The very act of coming to the Lord soothes the troubled spirit and trains us to set our cares and hope, and joy, in Him.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” One day, the Lamb will conquer all that opposes and confuses. We can rejoice that we are called and chosen and faithful. (Jeremiah 33:3; Revelation 17:14)
Lord, help me, in every conundrum, to choose Your sovereign lordship and joy.
As the rain and snow 