Unshakable Joy
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. John 16:22 (NIV)
There are seasons in life when sorrow feels overwhelming — when the weight of loss, disappointment, or uncertainty presses deeply on our hearts. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. They were about to face deep grief as they watched Him suffer and die, but He promised them something greater: a joy that could never be taken away.
This joy isn’t rooted in our circumstances — it’s rooted in Christ Himself. When we lose a loved one, when doors close unexpectedly, or when the future seems uncertain, sorrow naturally comes. Yet even in those moments, the risen Jesus whispers hope into our hearts.
When a believer walks through illness but senses God’s peace sustaining them day by day — that’s joy that can’t be taken away.
When a family struggles financially but still gathers to thank God for His faithfulness — that’s joy that runs deeper than circumstance.
When someone grieves, yet holds onto the promise of eternal life and reunion in Christ — that’s joy anchored in eternity.
Our sorrows are real, but they are temporary. The joy Christ gives is eternal — born from His victory over death and sealed by His Spirit within us. No one, and nothing, can take that away.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise of unshakable joy. Even in seasons of grief and hardship, remind us that You are near and that Your victory is ours. Help us to hold fast to the hope that no sorrow can erase. Fill our hearts with Your peace and Your presence today, and let our lives shine with the quiet joy that comes from knowing You. In Your precious name we pray, Amen.