Today's Devotional: The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Good Friday" for Friday, 3 April 2015 - Scripture: John 16:20-27

Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Good Friday" for Friday, 3 April 2015 - Scripture: John 16: 20 Yes, it’s true. I tell you that you will sob and mourn, and the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she is in pain; because her time has come. But when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering out of joy that a child has come into the world. 22 So you do indeed feel grief now, but I am going to see you again. Then your hearts will be full of joy, and no one will take your joy away from you.
23 “When that day comes, you won’t ask anything of me! Yes, indeed! I tell you that whatever you ask from the Father, he will give you in my name. 24 Till now you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Keep asking, and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
25 “I have said these things to you with the help of illustrations; however, a time is coming when I will no longer speak indirectly but will talk about the Father in plain language. 26 When that day comes, you will ask in my name. I am not telling you that I will pray to the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
For the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)]
Like many other people, I live with pain. My pain is physical because of the early onset of arthritis. But I have known others whose pain is mental, emotional, or spiritual in nature, and their hurt is often greater than bodily pain.
Jesus endured the suffering of the cross, which included every type of pain. He suffered obvious physical pain; but along with that came the sorrow and grief of leaving his disciples, the shame of public humiliation, and the feeling of rejection by his Father as he hung on the cross. Yet, Jesus was able to look ahead to the joy that was to come.
The use of the word joy is amazing to me. Joy goes beyond the relief of pain; in fact, it seems to be the very opposite of pain. The definition of joy includes feelings of happiness, gladness, and delight.
Faith calls us to look beyond our pain to a time when our health, happiness, and even our joy can be restored. Jesus Christ is always our example and guide for overcoming the difficulties of life, especially when we are hurting.
The Author: Lois M. Baker (Arkansas, USA)
Thought for the Day: Joy comes from trusting God’s love for us.
Prayer: Dear Lord, be with us in our difficult times. May weabide in your presence, where we can always find joy. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone Living With Chronic Pain

____________________________