John 16:32-33 “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Jesus’ earthly life is coming to the end God had planned. He is trying to share with his disciples truths they will need to carry on and teach others. Yet He knows they are struggling with understanding this on many levels. God wanted his chosen followers to know that life was about to get harder than they could imagine. Instead of being easier, they were about to be challenged at the very center of their culture. The people they counted on, family and synagogue, were going to betray and persecute them.
Sometimes we experience the same today. We may be right there with the disciples who, having spent 3 years learning at the feet of Jesus as he turned water to wine, cripples into sprinters, raising the sick into workers, yet we *still* cannot quite grasp his nature as “God with us!” We may have walked with God for many years, or just a few months, and here comes the inexplicable, the unexpected. Our family or friends turn on us. Disaster strikes our home or our business fails. Death, illness or financial failure cripple our life and we begin to struggle and question.
My momma always said, “Forewarned is forearmed.” Jesus is giving his followers (and us) the ‘heads up.’ “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. Don’t be surprised when persecution or trials come. It is part of the perfecting process. But we know we can overcome whatever the enemy sends our way. Jesus has traveled this path and stood firm In the face of trials. We have a savior who not only withstood the trials of life, but overcame them. He paved the way, he overcame for us, so that we, through His saving grace, can also be overcomers. But how does this translate into our lives as believers? Romans 12:21 reads, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” We are called to live differently. I have been watching the first season of The Chosen, and when Jesus calls Matthew, Simon says, in essence, ‘Not him! He’s different!’ Jesus reply is, “Get used to different.” He turned their world upside down, and ours will be also. We aren’t called to fit into this world, but to make it different with his love, good works, and truth, all to His glory! We might not have an easy walk, but we have a victorious one. 1 Corinthians 15 is full of encouragement, but look at verse 57, “but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Next time you get wound up, thinking, “Is this all there is?” Why no, it isn’t all there is. It’s not even close. We don’t have to wait for heaven for God’s love to comfort and encourage us. I’m right there with David, who wrote, “I would have fainted, unless I believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13
Jesus doesn’t just have the answers, he IS the answer.
If you have questions or comments, leave me a comment! I'd love to discuss this more with you!
