"I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.... now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy... I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:20,22,33)
Do you see a pattern here? Sorrow joy... sorrow joy... sorrow joy. Grief then joy. Grief then rejoicing. Trouble then overcoming. This is the pattern of the Christian life. This leads me to ask a question... is that really fair bible? How is it that you want me to be sad and happy? How are we supposed to be grieving but happy? And, shouldn't we always be joyful? If we are calling others to follow us then wouldn't joy be a great sales point? So why all this business about grief Jesus?
I do think that it is biblical to feel sad but still rejoice. But, our sadness should arise out of meaningful things. I don't think our hearts should break over petty things. There are things about this world that shouldn't be that big of a deal. We need to severe our love for petty things and the effect that they have on your soul. I am thinking about stuff like a car and having a mysterious dent shouldn't bring our world down. There are a million examples of things that shouldn't bring your world down what is yours? Money... when bills add up does that bring you sorrow? Sports... when your team has a bad week does that make you upset for a few days? When someone leaves the toilette seat up do you crumble with frustration? When someone goes in the 10 item or less lane at Walmart with a full cart do you lose it? When someone drives super slow and you are in a hurry does that make your blood boil? This is not what Jesus has in mind.
I think that our sorrow should come from things that matter. It should break our hearts that others don't know God. The fact that we have sin should grieve us. I think that watching a world that is corrupt and ruled by the prince of the air should make us sad. I think that our lack of faith should make us grieve. So there is a good grief. There is sorrow that is good. Paul describes it as godly sorrow (2 Corinth 7:10) that leads us to repentance. This is good. Sorrow can lead us to the cross. It is a sorrow that leads to repentance and ultimately to grace.
Then there are the verses that tell us to rejoice. Philippians 4:4 says, "rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice!" When the apostles were beaten in Acts 5 they went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy of suffering for the namesake. This is bizarre stuff?! This is gospel stuff.
Let me tell you a story about a group of people that went to visit some Christian friends in prison. While they were at the prison their houses were ransacked. What do you think they felt? Upset? Furious? Bitter? Unbelief that God could allow that to happen? I mean they are good Christians and doing a noble thing by visiting other good persecuted Christians!? Maybe enraged is a good way to describe them? ...Nope they were joyful "because they knew they had a better possession and an abiding one (Hebrews 10:34)."
Does that begin to describe you? Because that is what Jesus is talking about. Sure you might encounter some troubles in this life, sure you will be grieved, but 'I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away.' So, enjoy some of that joy now. Rejoice that you are called and loved. Rejoice that you have a possession that will last for eternity... God. "Whom have I in heaven but you. And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:24)"
Paul sums it up so perfectly in 2 Corinthians 6:10, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." This is your struggle friend... being sorrowful yet always rejoice... being poured out yet being filled... facing trouble but overcoming... being grieved yet being filled with peace and joy. "You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy. (vs. 22)"
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