“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:21-22)

Jesus shares these words with His disciples in the hours leading up to His arrest and crucifixion. He knows that they will soon be facing a time of great sorrow and grief, but He wants them to know that their pain will not last forever. Just as a woman’s pain in childbirth is forgotten in the joy of holding her newborn baby, so too will the disciples’ grief be replaced with joy when they see Jesus again.

This promise is not just for the disciples, but for all of us who follow Jesus. We will all face times of sorrow and grief in our lives, but we can hold onto the promise that our pain will not last forever. Jesus will see us again, and we will rejoice with a joy that no one can take away. May we cling to this promise in our darkest moments, and may we look forward with hope to the day when we will see Jesus face to face.