Love God Greatly: BeatitudesНамуна

 Christians sometimes think that we need to constantly show unbelievers how great our lives are now that we have faith in Christ. We want to advertise our faith by showing how much better it makes our lives. Yet Jesus promised His followers that they would face suffering and grief on this earth, even while the world rejoices. When Jesus was crucified, there were plenty of people who could rejoice in their victory at taking down the rebel teacher, while His followers mourned and hid. Even today, there is sin that the world celebrates while followers of Christ weep.

Later in this passage in John, Jesus will give the example of a woman in childbirth who experiences great pain during her delivery but rejoices once her child is born. Similarly, we who are awaiting the coming kingdom of God will encounter plenty of evil in the world that causes us to weep, but we do it with the knowledge that our joy is coming. God promises not just to wipe away all the pain and suffering of this world but to redeem it: to make all things right and turn our grief to joy. 

God, thank You for sending Your Son to earth to live a human life of difficulty and suffering. Thank You for understanding our pain. Comfort me when I grieve and give me joy in the promises You have given Your people.