July 10, 2026
— Martino Martini · Source: The Tatar Wars
John 16:20-21 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman grieves when she gives birth, because her time has come; but when she has given birth, she remembers her pain no more, but rejoices that a child has been born into the world.
Whether it's the "pain of childbirth" spoken of by Jesus or the "growing pains of civilization" depicted by Martino Martini, both reveal a profound spiritual law: suffering, in the context of faith, is never meaningless destruction, but rather a necessary baptism before the birth of new life. Often, we weep and wail because of the darkness and brokenness before us, even mistakenly believing that God has abandoned us. However, God's protection is never absent in the ruins. He is using circumstances to dismantle the hidden idols in our lives and prune our existence. Look with the eyes of faith: the sighs and tears of this moment are the prelude to the Lord making a way in the wilderness. The pain will eventually pass, and the resurrected life born from suffering will bring immense and irreplaceable joy.
Most holy and loving Heavenly Father, praise You! For You are the Lord of history, and the Lord who controls the storms of my life. Lord, when I experience the pain of life's upheavals, pressures, or low points, feeling sorrow and helplessness, forgive my lack of faith and grant me a "faithful eye" that transcends circumstances. I ask Your Holy Spirit to work in my weakness, to overthrow the old idols in my heart that replace You, and to allow my life to be reshaped by You in the baptism of morality and suffering. I firmly believe that my current weeping is only temporary labor pains, Your promises will not fail, and You will make all things work together for good. Grant me a steadfast heart to guide me through the pain of this dark night, to receive the new life You have prepared for me, transforming sorrow into joy. In the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen!