GOD Morning! A Little While/ March 26, 2018

GOD Morning! March 26, 2018


16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

17 At this, 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 Very truly I tell you, 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. Very truly I tell you, 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.

25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 “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



I am reminded that life is a pendulum. Intense joy and intense pain. Sometimes mixed together.

The phrase, “a little while” makes me chuckle. God’s “a little while” can be anything. Years, or hours. Honestly, I’ve found that God’s “a little while” is usually a long while.

It’s right here in scripture. We will all grieve. And then our grief will turn to joy. And back to grief. And back to joy.

I love the part about no one taking away my joy. So true. Folks around me can be frustrated or angry. But since my healing (which will be ten years ago on April twelve), I choose joy. I refuse to be sucked into someone else’s trouble. I find my little Jesus bubble and allow His peace to envelop me. He is my joy in the midst of a frustrated, angry world.

“Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

Why don’t we go ahead and obey this command?

There’s a one hundred percent chance that we won’t get what we don’t ask for.

In general, we humans have a hard time asking for help.

I believe this hesitancy filters into our relationship with our heavenly Father. We simply don’t ask. Oh, and if we do ask, we ask timidly, and with doubt. Because we feel that we don’t really deserve anything from God. This is a lie.

Just do it. Ask God for something. Anything! And watch Him make it happen. He loves to surprise us. He loves to see the expression on our faces when He shocks us with an unbelievable miracle.

Jesus goes on to say that His closest friends are going to all leave Him alone. Remember this when you feel absolutely alone. If you have never felt alone and friendless, trust me, you will. But His word promises that you will make it through your loneliness and pain. The pendulum will swing back into unbelievable, indescribable joy.

And then He promises that we will have peace in this troubled world. That’s all I desire. The peace of Christ.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7

“Dear Jesus, You encouraged me once again this morning. Many times, I hang my head and just keep trudging along. I must look up! And ask You for help. And also ask for crazy stuff. Dreams that You have placed in my heart. Miracles. I must pray long and hard. Throw myself into my relationship with You. Cast away shame and living a “settled for” life, feeling like I don’t deserve anything better because of past mistakes. Deliver me, dear Jesus, from this kind of thinking. Help me to love myself the way that You love me. Help me to cling to You during the lonely times. You promise peace in times of trouble. How I love You, Jesus. In Your precious name I pray, AMEN.”