⁶ “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.”

Sorrow in itself is over-rated. True, there is genuine sorrow at the loss of things that are precious to us—that is inherent to our human nature. However, sorrow can be eclipsed by hope and joy, engulfed by that which is greater, like light flooding a dark room.

The words of Jesus had a negative affect on the disciples. Knowing that would be their reaction, He spoke with them anyway, because He knew that their sorrow was precursor to joy. It would seem a general principle that deep joy is always attained through deep sorrow. For that which brings deep joy cannot be comprehended at first, before a visceral reaction to the very thing that is the instrument in gaining joy. For too often the hindrance to greater joy is the prospect of losing some other lesser joy, without which we think we cannot live. But that lesser joy must be let go, and that is where the sorrow comes in. We let go of the lesser joy, in order to gain a better joy.

At a very fundamental level, the creaturely pleasures of life bring us a certain, albeit minimal, level of joy. But to love others as we love ourselves, means at times forgoing our creaturely pleasures (e.g. sitting in the easy chair, sipping a cold drink and eating a pizza, while watching the playoffs on TV), for the joy that comes from serving others (mowing my sick neighbor’s lawn). There is some displeasure in getting off the chair and helping someone else. But the joy of serving obscures that.

Sorrow comes for many reasons: loss of a job, a relationship, illness, failure, guilt over sin and many other things. Jesus said we would have trials, so these things are to be expected. Just like the disciples in the Upper Room would have been ill-advised to ask Jesus to change His mind and not leave them, so we must be careful how we pray concerning our losses. Job’s loss of virtually everything turned into double blessing (Job 42:10-17). Patriarch Jacob’s limp became a sign of blessing (Gen 32:30-31). Joseph’s sorrow and misfortune of being rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery turned out for the good (Gen 50:20). Daniel’s three friends being thrown in the furnace turned into fellowship with God (Dan 3:25). David’s sorrow over his sin led to two inspired Psalms (51, 32) rejoicing over God’s forgiveness and restoration. Peter and John found joy in their flogging and persecution to discover “they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:31).

God the dark strokes of our life to add texture and depth. Joy now is choosing to anticipate that finished work, and that supersedes our suffering now.

Lord, help me look past the dark strokes in life and see the grand finished work.