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
Trouble is coming and for most of us the word “trouble” is an ugly word. We don’t want to think about it. We don’t want to hear about it, and we definitely don’t want to experience it. Yet we see trouble every day and we even let worry about trouble creep into our hearts. If someone told you something negative or bad was going to happen in your life you might just feel the need to correct their profession over your life. Yet silently, deep within, we think about what negative things “could” happen often. Well, I am here to tell you that it is time to settle it in your heart that trouble is coming and make up our mind as to how we are going to handle it. Heck, even Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble”. The first step to getting peace about the trouble coming is to accept the truth in your hear that Jesus has overcome the world. The Amplified translation of John 16:33 reads, “ I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” (AMPC) We need to make up our mind to "be of good cheer" no matter what we think or see.
Once we settle in our hearts that Jesus has overcome for us, we have to discover how to live in His victory and it isn’t going to be trying to skirt around trouble. For the most part it’s going to be walking through it one fire at a time with our heads held high knowing we won’t be touched by the flames. For we are believers. Bible believers. That’s our call and that is our heritage. God’s word is our road map for everything we believe, say, and do. We are a recreated people. A royal priesthood. But we didn’t start out that way. We are told in 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 “My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy.” (CEV) God isn’t saying we are foolish and weak. He is saying that is what the world thought and still thinks of Jesus. But He came to put the world in its place and He will use us to do it every day by our faith in Him. He chose us to be His chosen instruments…during the trouble…giving testimony to His grace, His goodness and His great love for us. When we proclaim His faithfulness during our troubles people take notice because many people have no testimony to the faithfulness of God. Every day we will be facing adversity, troubles, arrows from the enemy and even wearisome thoughts in our own minds. But God says we are bigger and better than all those trials and tribulations because the greater one lives in us. Let that be your testimony today. No matter what comes your way. Hold on to the promise. Cling to the word God has given to you. Do not be moved by what you see. Do not be moved by what you experience. Only be moved by the word. Strive to demonstrate Gods character in all you say and do for that is a witness in itself. Set your mind before the trouble comes that this is how you are going to handle life. You are in Christ and Christ is in you, you cannot lose so don’t give in!
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ~1 John 4:4 (NIV)
Have you settled in your heart how you will handle the trouble that Jesus said you will experience in this world?
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