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Walking Toward Joy

Walking Toward Joy
Words of Faith 2-22-17
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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John 16
[16] "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."
[17] Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" [18] They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."
[19] Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? [20] I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. [21] 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. [22] 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. [23] In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. [24] Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Jesus knew that a time of great grief was ahead for the disciples. They did not understand. Jesus knew that there was no way around this grief. There never is.
Jesus was going away and even though He would be back among them, the pain of watching His death would be horrifically great. The grief would be intensified by the fact that the enemies of God in world would rejoice at the death of Jesus.
But here is the good news. God turns such grief into joy. Jesus knew that a great time of joy was coming. The grief was something that the disciples could only walk through. But there was a great time of joy that would arrive. The days after the resurrection would be filled with joy beyond description. But for now there would be great grief, great pangs of hurt like the birthing of a child.
God was about to birth the gift of New Life into the world. The final atonement for the sins of world was about to take place. The conquest of the enemy death was about to occur. The One born to die would soon defeat the Enemy Satan and win the battle for the souls of men. The curtain in the Temple would soon be rent in two and the barrier between God and man removed for those who would believe by faith the work of Jesus.
The resulting joy would not be some passing fancy. This is the complete Joy that Jesus had talked about earlier. This is the joy of knowing the heart of God, seeking and doing His will.
Are you going through a hard time? A significant grief? The Lord desires to make His joy complete in you. Grief is something that we must walk through. But if we ask, He walks with us. He will give us the joy that comes only from knowing Him and the power of His resurrection. Are you ready to walk with Him?

Lord, walk with me through the difficulties and trials of my life. Take me through the times of grief. Bring me to the place of Joy that is found only in the power of Your resurrection. In Jesus’ name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2002, 2017
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.