Let our sorrows turn to joy

 John 16:16-22  “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 

17  So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 

18  So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 

19  Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 

20  Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 

21  When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 

22  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

               Advice from the Lord

1Pe 2:11-21  Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 

12  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 

                                                         Submission to Authority

13  Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 

14  or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 

15  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 

16  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 

17  Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 

18  Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 

19  For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 

20  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 

21  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.