Morning Devotional 042526 No One Can Take Away Our Joy

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

April 25, 2026

John 16:16-28

¹⁶ Soon you won’t be able to see me; soon after that, you will see me.” ¹⁷ Some of Jesus’ disciples said to each other, “What does he mean: ‘Soon you won’t see me, and soon after that you will see me’ and ‘Because I’m going to the Father’? ¹⁸ What does he mean by ‘soon’? We don’t understand what he’s talking about.” ¹⁹ Jesus knew they wanted to ask him, so he said, “Are you trying to find out from each other what I meant when I said, ‘Soon you won’t see me, and soon after that you will see me’? ²⁰ I assure you that you will cry and lament, and the world will be happy. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. ²¹ When a woman gives birth, she has pain because her time has come. But when the child is born, she no longer remembers her distress because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. ²² In the same way, you have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and you will be overjoyed. No one takes away your joy. ²³ In that day, you won’t ask me anything. I assure you that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ²⁴ Up to now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy will be complete. ²⁵ “I’ve been using figures of speech with you. The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in such analogies. Instead, I will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name. I’m not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and believed that I came from God. ²⁸ I left the Father and came into the world. I tell you again: I am leaving the world and returning to the Father.”  

Good Morning! Jesus turns our sorrow into joy!

God sent Jesus to be our advocate! An advocate is one who looks after the best interests of those they support. Jesus came to teach and model how God wants us to live. Through Christ, we learned how to love one another, to humble ourselves, to pray, to serve, and to lay down one’s life on behalf of others. 

When it was time for Jesus to return to the Father, we were not abandoned. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live within us so that we might never be alone. The Holy Spirit works from the inside out to transform us into new beings to be the face of Christ for the world. 

In this life, we will experience hardships and face challenges that bring us sorrow. We will have times when we feel lost and unsure of our way. We will make poor choices and face the consequences of our actions. 

Nevertheless, God will be with us in all things; Jesus will be the light that leads us out of the darkness; and the Holy Spirit will use these experiences to mold us and make us stronger. 

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God

And His righteousness

And all these things shall be added unto you

Hallelu, Hallelujah

Ask and it shall be given unto you

Seek and ye shall find

Knock and it shall be opened unto you

Hallelu, Hallelujah

Jesus says in verse 22, “No one takes away your joy.” In verse 24, “ ²⁴ Up to now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy will be complete.”

Joy is the spark that carries us through our days.

God of Wisdom, you bless us abundantly! You give us everything we need to live in your name. Thank you for loving us first so that we might love you. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: Sparkle with joy so that others might see God.

Choose joy today and every day! Pastor Liz