John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." - Jesus
We all have bad days, bad weeks, and sometimes bad years. We learn from our mistakes and we learn to persevere and to endure the hardships that we experience in this world. Professionals, business people, clergy, moms and dads, we all find ourselves from time to time reflecting on the challenges we face and wonder if it will ever get better.
We are only just beginning February of 2012 and I find myself in this spot. On January 9th my business was flooded and has dislodged us from our offices and disrupted our routines. The additional load to make the repairs along with travel commitments and projects have demanded long hours and most weekends. The future uncertainty that is part of my business challenges me emotionally and spiritually. I am struggling physically with injuries that have prevented me from running which has been my “fix” for managing anxiety and stress for decades. I read a Newsweek article today that put my troubles in perspective and highlighted a sharp rise of killing Christians because of their faith by over 300% since 2003.
Jesus says “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Jesus is speaking plainly of his death and resurrection and the trials to come for his disciples. The disciples faced the same trials that we fear. Loss, security, the future, emotional and spiritual challenges, and even the prospects of life and death. Jesus comforts them and us in acknowledging that we will all experience tribulations, but TAKE COURAGE for I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. An encouraging word that we can all take to heart. Take courage. We have the Holy Spirit as our comforter and He cares for us and has overcome the world. “Has overcome” – Past tense. He did not say that He “WILL” overcome the world, but “HAS” overcome. Jesus goes on in John 17 to pray for his disciples that they will be one and that the love God had for Him may be in them. By this “the world may know that you sent Me, and love them, even as You have loved Me.”
So my friends, Take Courage, surrender your anxieties to Jesus, and accept the peace that He provides. By this our lives will testify of God’s love “so that the world may know” God’s love.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
