John 16:20-24 - So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

In John 16:20-24, Jesus is speaking to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. He knows that they will soon face great sorrow and grief when He is taken from them and put to death on the cross. But Jesus reassures them that their sorrow will turn to joy. He compares it to a woman in labor - she has great pain and anguish during the birth process, but afterwards she forgets the pain because of the joy of holding her newborn child. In the same way, the disciples will grieve when Jesus dies, but their grief will turn to rejoicing when they see Him again after His resurrection. Jesus promises that no one will be able to take away the joy they will have when they see Him again. He also tells them that after He is resurrected and ascended, they will have direct access to the Father to ask for things in Jesus' name. Up to this point, they had not asked for anything in His name. But now He invites them to ask the Father directly, in Jesus' name, and they will receive what they ask for. The result will be fullness of joy. The joy that Jesus promises is not dependent on circumstances. It is a supernatural joy that comes from abiding in Him and seeing prayers answered. Even when the disciples face persecution, hardship and death for their faith, Jesus promises that their joy will remain because it is rooted in their unbreakable relationship with Him. The same is true for followers of Jesus today. In a world filled with reasons for sorrow and despair, we can have fullness of joy through fellowship with Jesus and asking the Father in His name.

This passage is such an encouragement for believers, because it reminds us of the unshakable joy that is found in Jesus Christ. No matter what trials, losses, disappointments or pain we may face in this life, we can experience true joy because of our relationship with Him. Jesus does not promise a trouble-free life. In fact, He assures us that in this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33). But He has overcome the world, and therefore we can take heart! The temporary sorrows we experience now will one day be turned to eternal joy in His presence. Jesus points the disciples to two key sources of joy - seeing Him again after the resurrection, and having their prayers answered in His name. The same is true for us today. Though we cannot see Jesus physically, we will see Him face to face one day. And in the meantime, we can experience His presence spiritually and have confidence that He hears and answers our prayers. Praying in Jesus' name is not a magic formula, but an acknowledgment that He is the mediator between us and the Father. Because of Jesus' finished work on the cross, we can approach God's throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). We have access to all of the Father's riches in Christ. What a privilege and a joy! Of course, this does not mean that God will answer every prayer in the way we want or expect. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). But we can trust that He is good, He loves us, and He is working all things together for our ultimate joy in Him (Romans 8:28). So in the midst of whatever sorrows or struggles we are facing today, let us lift our eyes to Jesus. Let us abide in His love, pray in His name, and trust in His promise that our hearts will rejoice with a joy that no one can take away. May the Holy Spirit fill us afresh with the joy of the Lord, which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of joy that we have in Jesus. Thank You that no matter what circumstances we face, we can rejoice in You. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the cross and the empty tomb, which make it possible for us to have a relationship with You. Forgive us for the times when we have allowed the sorrows and cares of this world to steal our joy. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Remind us daily of the glorious future that awaits us in Your presence. Lord, we bring our needs and requests before You now, asking in Jesus' name. Align our desires with Yours, and answer our prayers according to Your perfect will. Give us patience and trust as we wait on You. Most of all, we pray that You would satisfy us with Your unfailing love. Fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in You, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Let us be a light in this dark world, pointing others to the reason for the hope and joy we have in You. We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.