Take Heart!
With a title like that, you may be wondering how I am doing. Life has been quite good recently. I am enjoying spring - particularly that I haven't seen a mosquito yet! For some reason, however, I have been having difficultly sitting down to blog. I have too many ideas but none are well enough formed. So I thought I would share with you the verse that has been lingering in my mind over the last two weeks:
John 16:33 (ESV) Jesus says,
"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
I'm not even sure how I ended up at this verse. I was having a grumpy day and needed to remember that trouble/trials/tribulation are a normal part of life. Jesus says I will have them.... why would I expect differently? I was never one to have an accepting attitude to suffering. One of my main responses to things not going well/right has been anger. This is something that I have been praying about and looking to God and others to help me with as I know (from experience) that my "anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" (James 1:20). Hearing Jesus tell me I WILL have serious troubles in this world helps me accept that this is reality and puts into perspective the small daily annoyances that I make too big. It also helps me focus not on "whose fault is it that such and such happened?" or "why does life have to be like this?" but rather on God and listening to Him through each situation. What do I hear when I listen? Three things specifically in this verse:
1) "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace."
This verse is at the end of the several chapter speech that Jesus made on the night He is betrayed by Judas. The "these things" He refers to include topics like the Holy Spirit, abiding in Jesus, persecution, and love. The ability to have peace in the midst of painful trials comes from Jesus. It is found IN Jesus, by dwelling in Him and He in us through the Spirit. Anytime the troubles of this world seem too much, we can find our hiding place in Christ.
2) "But take heart".... Jesus encourages us to seize the inner strength that He gives us and be courageous as we face difficulties and sorrows. The New International Reader's Version translates it: "But cheer up!" How can we be so confident and strong? Because we believe the truth:
3) "I have overcome the world." Our joy and courage in challenging and distressing times come from faith in our Saviour Jesus and His power and love to defeat all that is against Him. Sometimes we end up "overcome" with sorrow or pain, unable to act. The picture I get for those moments is a huge tidal wave rising over and above us and whatever circumstance has paralyzed us. The wave is God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and His presence and power floods our lives overwhelming the powers that are against us (the world, our sinful natures, and the devil). Will our circumstances immediately change? Probably not. But our response to it will. We will be free to move forward in faith - to grieve, to heal, to take steps that will improve things in the short-term and long-term, to reach out, and to help other.
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
John 16:33 (ESV) Jesus says,
"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
I'm not even sure how I ended up at this verse. I was having a grumpy day and needed to remember that trouble/trials/tribulation are a normal part of life. Jesus says I will have them.... why would I expect differently? I was never one to have an accepting attitude to suffering. One of my main responses to things not going well/right has been anger. This is something that I have been praying about and looking to God and others to help me with as I know (from experience) that my "anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" (James 1:20). Hearing Jesus tell me I WILL have serious troubles in this world helps me accept that this is reality and puts into perspective the small daily annoyances that I make too big. It also helps me focus not on "whose fault is it that such and such happened?" or "why does life have to be like this?" but rather on God and listening to Him through each situation. What do I hear when I listen? Three things specifically in this verse:
1) "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace."
This verse is at the end of the several chapter speech that Jesus made on the night He is betrayed by Judas. The "these things" He refers to include topics like the Holy Spirit, abiding in Jesus, persecution, and love. The ability to have peace in the midst of painful trials comes from Jesus. It is found IN Jesus, by dwelling in Him and He in us through the Spirit. Anytime the troubles of this world seem too much, we can find our hiding place in Christ.
2) "But take heart".... Jesus encourages us to seize the inner strength that He gives us and be courageous as we face difficulties and sorrows. The New International Reader's Version translates it: "But cheer up!" How can we be so confident and strong? Because we believe the truth:
3) "I have overcome the world." Our joy and courage in challenging and distressing times come from faith in our Saviour Jesus and His power and love to defeat all that is against Him. Sometimes we end up "overcome" with sorrow or pain, unable to act. The picture I get for those moments is a huge tidal wave rising over and above us and whatever circumstance has paralyzed us. The wave is God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and His presence and power floods our lives overwhelming the powers that are against us (the world, our sinful natures, and the devil). Will our circumstances immediately change? Probably not. But our response to it will. We will be free to move forward in faith - to grieve, to heal, to take steps that will improve things in the short-term and long-term, to reach out, and to help other.
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
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