“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn into wonderful joy.”
John 16:20 (NLT)
In this moment, the disciples are confused. They have questions, but instead of asking Jesus, they’re talking among themselves. We do the same thing. We wrestle internally, assume conclusions, and miss the clarity that comes from bringing our questions directly to Him. Jesus knows this. Verse 19 tells us He realized they wanted to ask Him—and He lovingly answers before they even speak.
Jesus explains that sorrow is coming. The world will rejoice at His crucifixion, while His followers will grieve deeply. But that grief will not last. It will suddenly turn into joy. He compares it to childbirth—real pain, real anguish, but only for a moment. When the child is born, the pain is eclipsed by joy that cannot be taken away.
At the core, Jesus is pointing to His resurrection. The disciples would mourn His death, but three days later they would see Him alive. Their sorrow would turn to unshakable joy. And that joy wasn’t just emotional relief—it was rooted in resurrection power. Death didn’t win. Jesus wasn’t gone. He was alive.
That same truth applies to us. The pressing, the waiting, the droughts, the pain—they are not the end of the story. God is still resurrecting things in our lives. What feels like labor now may be producing joy that no one can take from you. Be patient. Wait. Allow the Lord to renew your strength—just as He promises in Isaiah 40:31.