Don’t see the audio player? Click here.
I am a man, so I’ll never know what it’s like to give birth to a baby. But some mothers say the pains of childbirth are like being tasered every five minutes—pain you never forget, but will quickly forgive after you see your new baby. The joy that follows childbirth illustrates the joy God promises His children who experience pain. He told ancient Israel to expect the pain of exile —suffering they caused by breaking the covenant God made with them at Mt. Sinai. Still, God said, after the exile He would restore their land and worship and honor. We read this in Jeremiah Chapter 33: “The time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion. Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.” God ended the exile in 539 B.C. and restored them to their land. When Jesus Christ died for our sins, God established a New Covenant, open to the entire human race. God now promises to forgive the sins of all who place their trust in His Son. Now despite the pain we face in this life, we can have joy in the midst of pain. We know that full joy will come in the morning.
