Reflections

Join me in reading John 16:19-24.  I especially noted 16:21.  I don't really relate to a woman giving birth, but I get the point.  There is pain and anguish, then insurmountable joy.  The joy overwhelms the anguish to the point that it is rendered irrelevant.
When Jesus spoke these words to his disciples they were in the early stages of the events that would lead him to the cross.  They would have had a sense that things were not "normal" but how things would play out was not understood. 
At the front end Jesus, 1) Acknowledges they have questions.  He knows they want to ask him things so he engages them. 2) Next Jesus assures them that although they will experience grief, their grief will turn to joy.  3) Jesus illustrates it with the woman in labor idea.  Bad, bad, bad, then JOY!
4) Struggle now but joy comes - and no one (nor no thing) can take it from you.  This is your future!
5) Ask God for what you long for, your will receive.  Your joy will be complete."
Jesus had something much larger than caronavirus in mind when he spoke those words.  The cross loomed before them.  His death would bring them pain and sorrow.  But when they realized that Jesus was risen from the dead and he was truly alive, their joy would be like nothing they could image.  It would change everything!  No trace of the pain they felt would exist because the resurrection has swallowed it up.  By following Jesus, they now enter into a "this world" experience of the resurrection life. 
I notice God gives hints and pictures of the coming resurrection life.  God breaks into this world with reminders of what is in store. 
Every time Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, cast out a demon, or performed some miracle, it was an in-breaking of the kingdom of God into this world.  No bad of this world could stand against the good of heaven, embodied in Jesus.
So here we are today.  We are in a "stay at home" moment.  (By the way, do this!  We can help the whole worlds situation by denying ourselves the joy of being out and about.)
We are at the front end of things.  We have many questions.  I anticipate the number of identified cases of Covid-19 rising.  I'll do my best, and so will you, to take measures to "flatten the curve". 
These next few days, weeks... could be longer, will present challenges.  Most of us will struggle with going "stir crazy".  We will wrestle with being disciplined enough to maintain the stay home order until the appropriate time to re-engage.
But we will.  And here is what will happen.  Your joy will be so much greater than your current inconvenience or the danger of the time.  We have an opportunity to experience a taste of the resurrection.
As followers of Jesus Christ we have assurance that the resurrection is our ultimate result.  Through history God has provided glimpses of new life.  I believe God is walking with us in these days and will once again show us wonder.  He will once again give us his joy. 
Your joy will make you forget your struggles of the moment.  You are not alone.  Joy is coming.
This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.
steve