Joy is possible because with Jesus there is always a glimmer of hope. On the night before his death, Jesus prepares his disciples for the grief they’re about to experience in the coming days with a glimmer of hope of what comes beyond that. He promises that when their grief will be turned to a deep joy, and “no one will take their joy away.” The resurrection of Jesus and the gospel message offers a type of joy and hope that no person or situation can steal from us. We don’t become who we were made to be by going beyond these simple gospel realities, but by going deeper into them, following the Spirit’s lead.
