Scripture: John 16:20
[Jesus said,] Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.
Thought for the Day: Jesus seems overly optimistic here. He appears certain that the sadness and pain of the disciples will eventually turn into joy. These words have a familiar ring to them – for it was 1700 years later that Voltaire wrote, “Optimism is the madness of insisting that all is well when we are miserable.” Whether you were a disciple who witnessed your Lord’s crucifixion or anyone who has been thrust into despair, the possibility of finding joy on some future day seems rather unrealistic. Yet for Jesus, his optimism was rooted in the conviction that love is always victorious, and with love comes joy and peace and wholeness. As hard as it is at times, people of faith need to move forward in the belief that despite the opinions of many, joy will win over despair. Yes, it sounds like madness – but just remember, you are in good company as Jesus was called crazy by many.
Prayer: Lord, help my cautious optimism to be turned into a faith-filled conviction… a genuine belief that your love and joy will once again touch and reshape my broken heart. Amen.
