Pregnant with joy

pregnant with joy

(11th painting of Pursuing Love Series)

Artwork inspired by John 16:20

Keiko Yamada

Acrylic Painting on Canvas

20 x 20 inch

This painting depicts flowers blooming vividly against a translucent blue-green background. It uses intensely bright colors—so bright that you might think there could be no brighter shades. Yet it may come as a surprise to say that this work is associated with “lament.”

Now that I am married, with my beloved husband by my side, this has become a story I can laugh about. But a few years ago, I once painted an entire canvas black out of lament when my unrequited love did not come to fruition. At that time, for me, the color of sadness could only be deep black.

While reading this blog, some of you may be thinking, “My current situation is exactly black—just black!”

If this painting is about sadness, then why are colors used that seem to be the opposite of sadness? The reason is that it was inspired by these words:

“You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

“Grief turned into joy!?” That might sound like the words of an extreme optimist, or someone who has never experienced the sorrows of life. For those who are in deep sadness, these words may feel far from comforting, as if their pain is being denied.

However, once you learn who said them, they become surprisingly compelling.

These are the words of Jesus Christ spoken to his disciples.

They were said to the disciples who were in the midst of shock and sorrow after hearing from Jesus Christ that he had to leave them. The Bible records that he did not scold them or treat them coldly, but instead acknowledged their sorrow and encouraged them.

In fact, it is understood that Jesus Christ, who spoke such words to his disciples, was himself carrying unbearable sorrow.

Christ's Grief

The night before Jesus Christ went to the cross, He said this to His disciples:

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.

Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Book of Matthew 26:38, 39 NIV

The same scene is also described in Chapter 22 of the Gospel of Luke, where it says that Jesus Christ’s sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood. This phenomenon, known as hematidrosis (bloody sweat), shows that He was experiencing tremendous stress and fear over the suffering of the cross that He was about to endure.

Despite the sorrow He Himself was feeling, He made this promise to His disciples:

“You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

Later, Jesus Christ truly did leave His disciples.

And it happened in a way far more painful and severe than they had imagined.

Even though He had done nothing deserving punishment, He was arrested out of jealousy and ultimately crucified. The disciples went through overwhelming confusion and grief.

So why did Jesus Christ say that their sorrow would turn into joy? Even if sorrow fades with time, could it really be possible for it to become joy?

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Pregnant with Joy　

The title of this artwork is called Pregnant with Joy, inspired by how Jesus described the process of grief turning into joy.

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come;

but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

So with you: Now is your time of grief,

but I will see you again and you will rejoice,

and no one will take away your joy.

Jesus Christ was able to say these words with confidence because He knew something that the disciples did not yet understand.

He knew that after dying on the cross, He would surely rise again.

Resurrection after death? It is not unnatural to think, That’s impossible. After all, this is not something we see in everyday life. We live in a world where death and sorrow are unavoidable realities for human beings.

But in reality, the disciples and hundreds of others witnessed the risen Jesus Christ and experienced a joy that powerfully overcame their grief. They came to realize that Jesus’ words were not merely empty words of comfort. They were transformed into people who proclaimed this truth despite persecution, and even today, the historical reality of the resurrection continues to be proclaimed.

That itself is evidence that their sorrow truly blossomed into joy.

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Was Death on the Cross a Necessity?

Lastly, I would like everyone to consider this question:

Why did Jesus Christ choose to willingly go through the suffering of the cross?

You might think, If He felt such deep sorrow and anguish, why didn’t He just stop?

But the reason was to restore our relationship with God—the One who created us and who is the source of all joy.

Just as we do not believe that a painting appeared by chance, but naturally assume that someone created it somewhere, human beings also did not come into existence by accident. The Bible, which continues to be a bestseller even today, says that we were lovingly created by God, the Creator of all things.

Yet every one of us has, in one way or another, said, “I don’t need such a God,” and separated ourselves from the very source of life and joy. In that sense, we are like flowers cut off from the soil—eventually, we wither.

The path Jesus Christ chose to complete, even through the sorrow of the cross, was to pay the price for that rebellion against God—a debt that no amount of good deeds or money could ever repay. Through His sacrifice, Jesus made a way for our relationship with God, the source of our joy, to be restored when we personally come to trust in what He accomplished for us. He showed us a path toward a joy that no one can ever take away.

Whether or not one believes that Jesus Christ is God, sorrow is unavoidable as long as we live in this world. During our lives, we may accept sorrow as something that gives us wisdom or refines our character. Yet the conviction that, in the end, all sorrow will be transformed into joy is an unshakable hope.

Would you consider receiving that hope from the hand that Jesus Christ extends to each one of us, even today?

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🌸 Prayer Discussion / Self-Reflection Suggestions

1. If the God who created us truly exists, what kind of joy do you think could blossom in your life as your relationship with Him is restored through Christ?

2. If you are carrying the joy given through Christ while also being in the midst of sorrow, what do you need right now? How can you pray today so that this need may be met?

🙏 Suggested Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You that we are not beings who came into existence by chance, but were created to experience the fullness of joy through a relationship with You. Please help us to make this joy—one that is not shaken by circumstances—more and more our own.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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Thank you for reading! God bless you!