“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
I find three helpful takeaways form this verse:
- Long before you or I were born, Jesus declared that we would have trouble in this world. Why? Because this world is not our home, we are just passing through! I find comfort in knowing that God is never surprised and never shaken by the trouble I face, and am learning that I don’t need to be either.
- When trouble arises, we can take heart, and be encouraged because Jesus has overcome the world. He came to earth, experienced life as you and I do, but made it through his life without ever falling apart emotionally or ever falling into sin. He prayed often, stayed focused on the Father and showed us that it is possible, in God’s strength, to overcome!
- Jesus said, “In me you may have peace.” I love that! Despite the trouble that will inevitably come, we can remain at peace when we remain in Christ! We simply need to learn to keep our eyes on Him rather than our troubles. It’s not necessary, or even possible, for us to remove all the trouble from our lives, but it is possible to keep it from stealing our peace! As we pray and bring every need before the Lord, we can release our circumstances to His control and let them turn out however He chooses. As we do that, and trust Him with the outcome, we can be completely at peace in all situations.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19a NIV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 NIV
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:27 NIV
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 NLT