This has been an interesting couple of weeks. I can't say I have had tribulations, but I have been feeling a little down. Summer brings a change of schedule, new demands, and expectations that are sometimes difficult to fullfil. I guess I have been feeling as if I don't measure up. We have all been taught the answers to every need is in the scripture, so I looked up depression in the Topical Guide. It referred me to despair or sorrow. I can't say that I am in despair, so I followed the TG to Sorrow. Sorrow seemed more fitting. In trying to stay true to my original idea of studying the life of Jesus and passing the stories on to my children I found John 16:20.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Christ is talking to his disciples. In John 14, 15, and 16 he is preparing them for the time that he will leave them. He tells them they will not be alone, they will have the Comforter, the Holy Ghost.
John 14
1 Let not your heart be troubled
16 ...and he shall give unto you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you forever.
17 ...for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you
26 But the Comforter...shall teach you all things,
and bring all thing to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15
11 ...my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full
16 But when the Comforter is come...
even the Spirit of truth..he shall testify of me.
How can this knowledge help me? My children? How can my sorrow be lifted?
Through the still small voice, we can learn of Christ and our Father in Heaven.
Their purpose is the same.
They want us to return to them.
That we might have peace.
In John 16, Jesus continues to teach us how we will still have Sorrrow, but that is helps us understand Joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come:
but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish,
for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow:
but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice,
and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing.
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name:
ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Having faith in Christ, knowing that his will is the will of his Father's, that he atoned for our sins, that he died and was resurrected in order for us to be able to follow can help us through our trials, sorrows, and times of despair.
Always remember....
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
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