Her Hour

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” 17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” 19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

With our focus verse being taken from John 16:21

John 16:21 NLT

21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.

Mothers are very special to all of us. We can never do enough to show these very special women how much we love, honor, and respect them for all they do daily.

This morning many of you came out to show honor to mothers and to celebrate what has become somewhat of an annual event, here at Kingdom Keys Bible Fellowship. Please join me in giving a thunderous round of applauds to all of the mothers in the house today.

Recently, in my reading and webpage surfing, I came across a website which had some rather memorable Mothers Day Humor of which I would like to share with you. For instance, someone wrote:

“The hand that rocks the cradle usually is attached to someone who isn’t getting enough sleep.”

Someone else wrote: “I’d like to be the ideal mother, but I’m too busy raising my kids. ”

Yet another person wrote: The mother of three notoriously unruly youngsters was asked whether or not she’d have children if she had it to do over again. "Yes," she replied. "But not the same ones."

Finally, Bits and Pieces in 1989 wrote:

A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday school presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help. Her son’s memory was blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world." The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world."

Mothers are the light by which many are led to see clearer. Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers.

It’s my prayer that you are able, today, to commemorate the happier moments of being a mother.

As a father of six children I’m fully aware that all of your days as mothers aren’t exactly happy ones!! In fact, many of your days, early on, are full of anguish and sorrow. And it all started the moment your child was conceived.

Since becoming a mother, your life (as you once knew it) has never been the same.

You have had anguish, sorrow, and joy similar to that of Rachel in Genesis 35:16-19

Genesis 35:16–19 NLT

16 Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense. 17 After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!” 18 Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”). 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

For who can ever forget the story of Rachel, mother of Joseph, and Benjamin. I has to be noted that Rachel was the first woman on record to lose her life in childbirth?

I believe that all mothers can attest to the sacrifices they have made on behalf of their children. And in the process of sacrificing for their children, they have the loss life as they knew life before their children came along.

It’s inevitable! It’s impossible to be a mother and continue to enjoy life as one did prior to motherhood. I can personally attest to the fact that my Mother freely sacrificed and gave-up a lot for me.

As Toni Burke indicated in his song – I too remember Momma in a happy way! I am not saying that all of my memories were fun memories. Because there were some memories that I would like to forget, especially those that caused my mother to make me pick-out a switch. In some cases a hot wheels track that she had hidden away somewhere.

Reality is that out of the same heart that renders love and compassion also comes anger and pain. Likewise, the very thing in Christendom which causes us headaches, sorrow, and pain in this life; God uses to also bring us Joy.

The Psalmist says it best in Psalm 30:5b when he says: …weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; in other words ‘The trouble and anguish that I feel right now will not last always! Somehow the Lord will turn things around.’

And my sorrow will turn to Joy.

Today, we are going to collectively participate in communion, as we commemorate our Savior’s life, death, and resurrection. Likewise, in our text today, Jesus’ discourse at the last supper, with his disciples addressed the idea of how long we must go through our various trials and tribulations.

John 16:16-22 says

John 16:16–22 NLT

The bottom line up front in Jesus’ response is that the HOW LONG a trial last or is to last …. Is not the most significant THING TO KNOW in our lives as Christians …

The How Long sorrow occurs in our life as Christians is not the most significant thing TO LEARN … as a Christian …

Why this particular type of anguish has occurred is NOT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT thing to know as a Christian …

THE SIGNIFICANT THING TO KNOW, AND BE AWARE OF … AS A CHRISTIAN … is that … in spite of what I going through … I’m going through … And JOY, though it may not come when I want it to come, It’s coming … you see … JOY COMETH …

Don’t you remember Jesus used the analogy of Childbirth to COMFORT THE SORRORFUL HEARTS OF HIS DISCIPLES - who because their pain and the grief of losing our Savior, they just could not even fathom the thought of Him (Jesus) going away … not even for a little while ….?

I have said it before and I will say again – if mothers truly remembered the sorrow and difficulties of giving birth, they would never become pregnant again. But, the fact of the matter is , mothers don’t remember the pain because of the joy.

Many of our mothers in attendance today can attest to the idea of not recalling the anguish of birth after seeing the joy that their sorrow brought forth.

Seeing their baby and experiencing the joy of being a mother causes many mothers to forget the anguish of carrying that child for nine months, your body in constant movement, the kicking, the cravings, and finally the pain of the actual birth

So, in spite of the birthing pains and anguish that you’re remembering right now, … hang in there … and don’t give up … BECAUSE JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING!

That trial that you’re going through hasn’t come to BREAK YOU … BUT TO MAKE YOU. BECAUSE YOUR HOUR HAS COME …

FOR THE BIBLE SAYS … (in Psalms 30:1-5 )

Psalm 30:1–5 NLT

1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. 3 You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. 4 Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.