March 31

Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable. — 1 PETER i. 8.

And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. — JOHN xvi. 22.

COMFORTING words for sorrowing souls. "In this world ye shall have tribulation." It is a common experience of the saints, and a necessary discipline. But sanctified sorrow is more than compensated.

Those words of Jesus. "I go away," together with an intimation of other trials, brought anguish to the disciples. How true, "Ye have sorrow now"! But "I will see you again" brought adequate consolation. The cross bore him from their sight, but he saw them again and they saw him; and though the clouds received him, yet in spirit he remained with them to the end, — a source of joy unspeakable.

So Jesus deals with all who love him. Their sorrows are many, but the sharpest pains come from a conscious separation from their Lord, — the communion interrupted by sin and unbelief. To them that mourn for him he will show himself again. "I will come to you." The severer the pangs, the greater the joy of deliverance. "Your heart shall rejoice." It is not surface-gladness, which is transitory, but a deep, solid, constant, lasting joy.

Loyd Talmage

But see! the night is waning fast,

The breaking morn is near;

And Jesus comes with voice of love,

Thy drooping heart to cheer.

Then weep no more; 'tis all thine own,

His crown, his joy divine;

And sweeter far than all beside,

He, he himself is thine!

SIR E. DENNY