The Joy Nobody Can Take Away

Jesus promises us that even our saddest, longest nights will turn into joy , and that when we are with him, that joy belongs to us forever.

Tonight's story is inspired by John 16:20-23a, the Gospel reading for May 15, 2026.

About Baa Baa Bible: Bible-inspired bedtime stories for children ages 3-10. In every story, Jesus is the gentle Good Shepherd, teaching us the lessons of today's Bible reading. All the other characters are lambs and sheep, a warm reminder that we are all part of his flock. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Good evening, little lambs. Tonight's story is called The Joy Nobody Can Take Away, inspired by the Gospel of John sixteen verses twenty through twenty three. Tonight, the Bible makes us a gentle promise that even our longest, grayest, saddest nights will one day turn into joy, and when we stay close to Jesus, that joy becomes ours to keep, and no one can ever take it away. So come along to Shepherd's Hill, where the night has been long and gray, and the little lambs are about to discover the morning that always comes. The night had been long and gray. Dark clouds had rolled across Shepherd's Hill all evening, and the rain had tapped and tapped on the old oak leaves like tiny fingers. Clover pulled her blue scarf a little tighter and looked out toward the barn at the edge of the meadow. Her little clover sprig drooped behind her ear. Do you think Fern is all right? she asked. Biskit sat close beside her, the little tuft on top of her golden brown head damp from the drizzle. Usually Biskit was bouncy and bright, but tonight even she was quiet. I don't know, Biskit said softly. She's been in there all night. Old Woolly sat a little way off, his silver wool glowing gently in the dark. He didn't say anything. He just breathed slowly, like the steady flicker of a lantern. Their friend Fern, honey colored and gentle, with great warm brown eyes, was in the barn waiting for her new lamb to be born. They loved Fern, and waiting, not knowing, felt like a stone sitting inside their chests. Then quiet footsteps came along the wet path, and Jesus sat down among them. He didn't rush to speak. He simply looked at them, at Clover's drooping sprig, at Biscuit's still for once pause, at old Wooly's patient stillness, and his eyes were full of understanding. You're sad tonight, Jesus said. It wasn't a question. Clover nodded. We're worried about fern, and about the dark, and about everything. Jesus smiled. Not a big smile, but a warm one, like embers glowing in a fire. I know about sad nights, he said gently, and I want to tell you something true. He picked up a small smooth pebble and turned it in his fingers. Do you know what happens when a new lamb is born? It's hard, said Biskit quietly. For the mama, it's a long, hard night. Yes, said Jesus. But then when that little one finally arrives, what does the mamma feel? Biskit thought for a moment. She forgets the hard part. She just loves. Yes. Jesus set the pebble down. The joy is so big, it covers over all the sadness. The long night disappears into the morning. He looked at each of them one by one. That's what I want you to know about life. There will be nights that feel very long, nights when you miss someone or something hurts, and the world feels dark and far away. He paused. But I promise you, the morning always comes. I always come back, and when I do, your joy will be so full that no one, no one in all the world will ever be able to take it away from you. Clover felt something warm settle quietly in her chest, and then just then a tiny sound floated across the meadow from the barn, a small, wobbly, brand new voice. Ma the three lambs looked at each other. Then they were running, hooves on the wet grass, breath streaming in the cool night air all the way to the barn door. There was Fern, honey colored and tired and glowing all at once, and tucked against her side, still damp and blinking at the world with enormous dark eyes, was the tiniest lamb any of them had ever seen. Snow white, perfect, alive. Fern looked up at them, and on her face was a joy so big it had no edges. The stone was gone from Clover's chest. She felt light all the way through. Her clover sprig lifted gently behind her ear, straight and green again. Behind them Jesus leaned against the barn door frame, watching. You see? he said softly. They did. The rain had stopped. The clouds were parting, one star, then two, then a whole quiet sky of them blinked into view above Shepherd's Hill. Old Wooly settled down in the hay near Fern. Biscuit reached out and very gently touched her nose to the tiny lamb's woolly head. What will you call her? Clover whispered. Fern was quiet for a moment, looking at her little one, the smallest, newest, most wonderful thing in all the world. Dewdrop, she said softly, because she came with the rain. And there in the warm hay, under the stars that had come back, the lambs drifted toward sleep. Jesus sat with them a little while longer, just long enough for every worried heart to grow still, and every tired eye to close. I will see you again he had promised, and no one will take away your joy. They believed him, they always would. And now a bedtime prayer. Dear Jesus, thank you for your promise, that sad times don't last forever, and that you always come back. When the night feels long, help me remember your words that my joy is safe with you, and no one can ever take it away. Amen. Good night, little lamb. God loves you so much, sweet dreams.