Just a Little While
May 29, 2025 - Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
John 16:16–20
Sometimes, the hardest thing to hear when you're struggling is, “Don’t worry—it’s only for a little while.” Because when life hurts, even a little while feels like forever.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus repeats this phrase again and again: “A little while and you will no longer see me… and again, a little while later, you will see me.”
The disciples didn’t understand what He meant. And honestly? Sometimes neither do we.
That first “little while” referred to Jesus’ death. He was about to be taken from them, and their world would fall apart. They’d be filled with grief and confusion. Meanwhile, the people who rejected Him would be celebrating. That kind of pain is real—and Jesus didn’t pretend otherwise.
But then He says: “In a little while, you will see me again.” That’s the promise of resurrection. Of hope. Of joy coming back into the picture.
Jesus' "little whiles" are the pattern of our own lives. There are moments when we feel strong, full of purpose, full of faith. And there are moments when everything feels like it’s falling apart—when prayer is hard, life feels heavy, and we’re just tired. Jesus gets that.
Think of it like this:
Good Friday is the pain.
Holy Saturday is the silence.
Easter Sunday is the joy.
But Holy Saturday often feels like the longest day. It’s that space between sorrow and joy, when nothing seems to be happening and it feels like God is silent. We can’t see the next step, and we wonder if things will ever change.
But the truth is: every Holy Saturday ends. The tomb is not the end. The silence breaks. Joy returns. The Bible says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:6)
So how long is “a little while”? Only God knows. But we can be sure of this: it’s not forever. And when we make it through—when the sun rises again—we won’t be the same. Like the disciples after Easter, we’ll be changed. Stronger. Wiser. Closer to Jesus. More aware of what really matters.
Jesus doesn’t promise us a life without sorrow. But He does promise that sorrow will turn into joy. That’s not wishful thinking—it’s resurrection reality. And the Holy Spirit helps us hold onto that promise, even in the dark.
So if you're in your “little while” right now, hold on.
Don’t give up.
Joy is coming.
Christ is risen—and that changes everything.