“Your baby will be here soon.” What does soon mean after 24 hours of desperation? A little while, again in a little while. Repeating the words doesn’t reduce the confusion. Their tradition held that God’s people would suffer before God delivered them. Jesus understands his disciples are grieving, and that the cross will be painful for them to witness. But the decisive suffering that brings life into the world will be his. He uses the same word for a woman's time of suffering in labor as his appointed hour to suffer on the cross. Then Jesus shocks them with another revelation: "I will see you again." The disciples won't overcome the devastation of the cross by believing more. Jesus will take the initiative to bring them joy. Because the cross gives us new birth, we have direct access to the Father. His disciples were raised not to say God's name for fear of offending him. Now, Jesus invites them to ask their Father for anything at all. But the joyful emphasis of this passage has led to disappointment. My friend’s eyes were weary as he told me, “I fasted and prayed, but my son still walked away from the faith.” He asked in Jesus’ name and didn’t receive. I thought, “What good is a promise to ask for ‘anything’ if it can’t save our loved ones?” His heart ached, and I didn’t have an answer. But then I realized he didn’t need one. When I saw him in the service, singing his heart out, I realized he’d been mentoring me to find joy in knowing God, not in getting what he asked for. Prayer is how we know the Son who died to give us life. And our relationship with him is what gives us joy.