From Grief to Growth: What John 16:20 Teaches Us About Life, Business, and the Art of Becoming

We don't often talk about grief in boardrooms or business strategy sessions. It feels too raw, too personal, and too unpredictable. But grief isn't just reserved for funerals or heartbreaks.

Grief shows up in the loss of a dream, the collapse of a deal, the betrayal of trust, and the burnout after building something that no longer fits your soul. And if you're living with vision and going after something that matters, you will encounter it.

Jesus's words in John 16:20 aren't just spiritual poetry. They're strategic truth. "Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy."

There's something fierce and freeing in that line. Jesus doesn't sugarcoat reality. He doesn't say, "Don't worry, everything will be fine." He says, "It will hurt. And while you're weeping, others will be celebrating. But don't blink because this sorrow is pregnant with joy."

Here's where that truth becomes a blueprint for life and business.

Understand: Grief Is Not a Disruption, It's a Crucible

In life and leadership, we often interpret pain as a problem. But pain is also a passage. Every pivot in business, every reinvention in life, every evolution of purpose is preceded by loss.

The disciples thought the crucifixion was the end. It was the hinge. Your grief may not be your grave; it might be your most significant growth point.

Apply this:

• When something in your life or business dies, name it honestly. Don't rush to fix it, and don't minimize it.

• Sit in the loss, but sit with hope.

Recognize the Saturday Season

Jesus died on Friday. Joy came on Sunday. But Saturday? That was the most challenging day. The in-between. The silence. The unanswered questions. The "what now?" And this is where many people quit. In business, we abandon the project when the results lag. In life, we retreat from growth when clarity doesn't come quickly. But if we understood that Saturday is part of the process, not proof of failure, we'd stay longer in the tension and harvest the breakthrough.

Ask yourself:

• What "Saturday season" am I in right now?

• Where am I tempted to walk away, when I'm standing on the edge of resurrection?

Let the Grief Transform You

Jesus didn't say your grief would go away. He said it would turn to joy. That means the same raw material—the loss, the tears, the confusion—is what God uses to shape your next season. In business, this could look like the failed launch that taught you integrity, the toxic partnership that taught you discernment, or the exhaustion that taught you to lead differently.

This is a spiritual and strategic transformation. The more profound the sorrow, the richer the soil for purpose. But only if you don't rush it.

Lead from Resurrection, Not Reaction

Too many leaders, whether in business, ministry, or family, are reactive. They lead from urgency, fear, or ego. But resurrection power is different. It's quiet and patient and moves with conviction, not just ambition. When you allow grief to mature you, you stop leading for applause and start leading for impact.

Consider this:

• Are you leading from a healed place or a hurried one?

• Are you creating from fullness, or trying to prove you're not a failure?

Build with Eternity in Mind, Not Just Efficiency

Jesus ' words weren't meant to comfort His disciples but to. In business, we're tempted to prioritize speed and scalability. But eternity is slow. The purpose is patient. If you're building something that will outlive you, it will stretch you, break you, and rebuild you with wiser hands.

Build like this:

• Measure success not just in revenue, but in impact and legacy.

• Choose alignment over applause.

• Refuse to sacrifice your soul on the altar of short-term wins.

Reflection Questions (Don't Skip These):

1. What grief in my life or business have I been trying to escape rather than learn from?

2. Where have I misread silence as God's absence?

3. What Saturday season do I need to endure without giving up?

4. Where is God inviting me to trade reactivity for resurrection power?

Now Take Action:

• Journal it. Take 15 minutes today. Name the grief. Feel it. Don't solve it, just see it.

• Share it. Vulnerability in leadership unlocks trust. Tell a friend or teammate what season you're in.

• Build again. From what you've lost, ask God what joy He's preparing you for. Then, take a small, bold step forward.

You are not buried. You are being planted. You are not forgotten. You are being formed. And the same God who allowed the grief is the One who promises it will turn to joy.

Lead from that promise. Build from that place. Because when joy comes, it will be worth every tear.

A Prayer for the Journey from Grief to Joy

Father God, You see every sorrow, setback, and silent Saturday we walk through. Nothing is wasted in your hands. Today, we surrender our grief to You, not to bury it but to let You transform it. Take what's broken and shape it into something beautiful. Take our disappointments and use them to deepen our purpose.

Help us wait nicely in the in-between. Give us the courage not to quit. Teach us to lead, build, and love with resurrection power, not fear or striving. Let our lives and work reflect Your faithfulness, even when we can't see the whole picture.

We trust that joy is coming—not because we feel it, but because You said it. And Your Word never fails. In Jesus' name, Amen.