Pain and joy - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
Psalm 62:8

Pain and joy
Once, two different groups of people came to the Lord Jesus almost simultaneously. One brought Him their pain, and the other brought Him their joy. He was there for both.

1. “Then his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus” (Matthew 14:12). John the Baptist was first arrested by Herod and then killed by this cruel king. This was a blow to his disciples. Where should they go with their pain? They sought the Lord Jesus and reported everything to Him. He withdrew with them to a desolate place to share in their distress. The death of His forerunner also pained Him. The deadly hatred that John had experienced would touch the Lord Jesus even more deeply.

2. “Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught” (Mark 6:30). The twelve apostles had proclaimed the kingdom of God and performed miracles on behalf of the Lord. After their mission, they returned to their Master full of joy and told Him everything they had experienced. He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).
Away from the busyness of life, He engaged with their joyful experiences and refocused their hearts on His glorious person.

Today’s reading: Lamentations 1:12-22 · Psalms 42:7-11