"Your Sorrow Will Turn to Joy"

"So much of our fear, discouragement, anxiety, and worry is the result of underestimating what God is willing to do."

- Paul David Tripp in the Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotional, Dec 2nd

Photo taken by Dave Yoder in Brooklyn, NY

Maybe you need to hear these words today.

They were especially timely for me in light of not receiving the outcome I was hoping for on the other side of these treatments in Pittsburgh.

After fighting my skepticism about yet another doctor's claims to help,

After building up the courage to hope for healing again,

After hearing the doctor repeatedly assure me I'd be fully restored (as if I'd never sustained a single concussion),

After 1 week of 20 intensive treatments in June,

After 4 rounds of follow up treatments in July, August, October, & November,

After 65+ hours of driving there and back,

I feel as though my brain is essentially in the same state as before (maybe barring some minor improvements).

Oh, how my heart longed for my final round of treatments to be a celebration of finally overcoming these debilitating concussion symptoms that have limited me for over 13 years.

I secretly longed to hear my doctor proudly state "I told you so" through a wide grin when I reported that I could run, jump, nod my head, turn from side to side, and bend down without any dizziness or pain.

After all, he had said I should be able to do all those things - and more - within 8-10 weeks of my first appointment.

It cut me so deeply to hear him change his story after discovering my body didn't respond to his treatments like he had expected.

It crushed me to hear him say - shortly after his lofty claims about full healing - that "Some people never get better" and

"Some people have to do this every year" and

"You might never be able to bend down without pain ever again."

Oh how I cried out to God for consolation.

And He met me in John 16.

Instagram Story immediately following the final round of follow up treatments.

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Jesus' words in John 16 have been of special encouragement to me this week. While He offered these words to His disciples in the context of his imminent death and resurrection, I have been clinging to them in the context of when I'll see Him face to face.

May they minister to you today, amidst the longings and unanswered prayers you carry within you this holiday season.

"You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy."

(John 16:20)

Jesus acknowledges our sorrow and promises that it will only be temporary. Oh what a sweet gift and reminder these words are. The perfection of heaven awaits us.

"I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you."

(John 16:22)

I'm know I'm not the only one who's experienced many ups and downs these past couple of months.

At times, doctors' words might have inspired great hope within our hearts while, at other times, they've been crushing.

Let's seek to behold Jesus now and let's also look forward to the day when we'll behold Him face to face. On that day, no painful circumstance, diagnosis, loss, or broken relationship will be able to steal our joy anymore.

"In that day, you will ask nothing of Me."

(John 16:23)

I'll leave you with this wonderful line that's been echoing in heart. I don't know about you but it feels like I'm laying a lot of requests before the Lord these days (I take comfort in knowing that He wants us to!)

But, on that final day, when we behold Jesus face to face - in all His glory - we'll ask nothing else of Him.

We'll be speechless.

It'll all be done.

The restoration we've been longing for will be here.

Does this fill you with hope?

For now, while we're here on earth, Jesus invites us to ask of Him boldly saying "Whatever you ask of the Father in My name He will give you" and the famous

"Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24).

But, we also have the promise that someday, we won't need to ask anything else of Him.

Our sorrow will be turned to joy.

Everlasting joy.

Much love,