• 

Day 287: John 17:1-21

I have just received some really sad news from a dear friend whose potential son-in-law has committed suicide.  He left behind a family that loved and cared for him so much.  There is one think that I know for sure…that when these kinds of tragedies happen in our lives, there is no way on this earth that we can overcome the grief and sadness on our own.  It’s too hard.  It’s overwhelming.  And, it is even easy to lose hope in our despair.

In John 17:1-21, Jesus is praying for His disciples and for us!  His focus at this point in His ministry is on those who believe and love Him.  In chapter 16, Jesus tells us to ask for what we need so that we may receive ‘complete joy.’  And, now again, in chapter 17, Jesus states in His prayer to the Father, “…and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves!”  (v. 13).  Jesus wants His own personal joy to fill our hearts – to overflowing!  We are not alone!  Jesus is on His way to His Father, in which we get to go also one day.   However, in the meantime, while we are still here on earth, Jesus is with us, reassuring each of us of His own petition to His faithful Father for protection and to receive Jesus’ joy – complete joy, even in the midst of sorrow, sadness, and grief. 

Honestly, I cannot grasp “complete joy;” however, what I do believe is that God gives believers a peace that passes all our understanding.  It is because we believe in the Resurrected Christ, Jesus gives us peace in knowing that with Him, all will be OK in our lives and in those we have lost in this world.  We are not alone!

To my friends who are suffering with sadness and grief:  May the Lord bless you and keep you.  May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace +