Read John 16:32-33. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “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.”
Reflections on the Word.
Trouble. Who doesn’t have trouble! We just don’t want MORE trouble than we already have. The unexpected car repair bill or medical bill is tolerable, but a major illness is more trouble than we can handle. We would have to drop everything to handle that medical emergency.
One night I was rushing to try to finish up building a bird house. I was making a fine cut on my table saw. Guess what? I cut my fingers on that table saw. Thankfully, I didn’t cut my fingers off. I should have seen it coming. It was carelessness on my part, but there are troubles that comes our way that is beyond our control.
When Jesus said that in me you will have peace, He is not declaring the absence of trouble or trials. He says, “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.”
The forewarning of what was to happen in the coming hours was not to be a surprise to them. He has declared what is to come and the coming result of it. They will desert and abandon Him, but He wants them to know that He is not alone. They will have grief, but their grief will turn into joy.
You and I already know what will be happening to us. In this world, we will have trials that test our faith. Knowing that we will have trials and difficulties in this life should not surprise us, nor should it control us. You and I already know the outcome that if we persevere in our faith, we will receive rewards for our perseverance and faithfulness.
The attraction of fame, fortune and power of this world didn’t deter Him for doing the will of the Heavenly Father. Jesus states that He has overcome the world despite the greatest test that still awaits Him. He must face humiliation, physical torture, abandonment, and death in following through with the Father’s will. It is no surprise to Jesus, He willfully embraces it. Jesus wants His disciples to know that He has overcome the world and they also can overcome the world when troubles come.
Don’t look for peace in the wrong places. For those of us in Christ, we already have peace with God and the peace of God is in us. Our relationship is secure in Christ Jesus. Our fellowship with God can persevere through any trial in this world. We may face nearly unbearable duress in our situation. The circumstances may be dire and may even lead to our physical death, as it did Christ. But whatever comes our way, remember Jesus words: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Expect trials and difficulties, but don’t let them detract or distract you from the peace that we already have in Jesus for He has overcome the world and being in Him we have too.
-Kingston