The darkest time is coming for the disciples. Jesus will be arrested and crucified. They will be scattered and terrified. Jesus knows they will “weep and wail,” and He told them this. But He also knew what He was accomplishing for them and for the whole world. He told them that in a short time, their “sorrow will turn to joy.” They will long for His presence, and He will give them His presence forever through the Holy Spirit. They have nothing but questions now, but the Holy Spirit will guide them into all the truth. The disciples will have a couple days of absolute misery, confusion and agonizing doubt. But then they will have the joy of the Risen Christ, and later the enlightening of the Holy Spirit. They will realize all that God has done for them and how much He loves them. For a time, they will feel as if the whole world is beating down on them, but Jesus tells them: “Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
Do you sometimes feel like the whole world is beating on you? We all have periods of misery, confusion and doubt. The disciples couldn’t imagine the joy that the Lord had prepared for them in just a few days. When we are in our periods of suffering, we also can’t see the joy the Lord is preparing for us. Like the disciples, we don’t know what He is doing in our lives. But we need to do as He said: “Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
What circumstance in your life is making you miserable and confused? Pray about it with the knowledge that the Lord who loves you has conquered the world. Pray for courage.