These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
There are two things that we are promised in this life; one is obstacles and two is the ability to overcome them… Notice that Jesus didn’t say in the world you might have tribulation, He said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation…” As a child of God we are sure to endure hardships, we are sure to endure challenges and that’s why Paul said that we must “press toward the mark…” Today find joy in your challenges and obstacles because you know that Jesus has already overcome them and will provide all the tools that you need to do the same… Jesus assures us that there will be many days that we are left scratching our heads and wondering how is it that this young man can take another man’s life… This world is a diseased place that slowly is killing each person that resides within it (those who desire and adhere to worldly standards and ways of living). The desire of Christ is that nobody should perish and that we all be saved… Jesus is preparing for His departure from earth and instructing His disciples of the times which lie ahead of them… Jesus declares to His disciples in this passage that times of hardship will come, He says, “you will grieve while the world is filled with joy…” Speaking directly to His death and the torment that His followers would endure! Jesus goes on to say that “you will mourn but eventually will be filled with joy…”
We all must suffer from time to time in the body of Christ, we all must endure tribulation on this earth, but we find joy in the fact that we can “be of good cheer” because He has overcome the world… Your victory is assured, your foundation is set and your breakthrough is guaranteed… We will indeed suffer in this world, but we take pride in nothing that this is not our permanent residence and that we are storing up our treasures in heaven “where thief’s cannot steal and moth cannot corrupt…” In this chapter Jesus compares the hardships of our suffering to the birth pains that a woman feels while she is in labor… He tells His disciples that she indeed is in anguish when going through that process, but when the child is born her joy trumps any pain that she has felt and she overcomes… Likewise, the birth pains that we face on this earth bring anguish into our homes, on our jobs and in our communities; but when we see the finished product of our suffering, when we take hold of the will of God and receive the precious promises and gifts of Christ, our joy will indeed overpower the suffering that we have dealt with… Paul wrote that “no suffering seeming joyous at the moment, but that it worketh a far more weight of glory in Christ Jesus…” Paul also said that we will never be tempted beyond what we can bare, but when we are tempted He will provide a way of escape… Notice what Jesus says in the beginning of this verse, “that in him we might have peace!”
Notice the wording of this verse, He is not guaranteeing that you will not cry sometimes, He is not guaranteeing that will not feel the presences of evil or danger, He says you might have peace! In the world He says you shall have tribulations… There is no end to your suffering as long as you are focused on living in the world, there is no escape, and there is no salvation! In other words, Jesus is promising you a chance to succeed, He is promising you an avenue to escape, and He is assuring you an opportunity to be victorious. He can proclaim this because all you are facing He faced on the cross. He can declare that, because the evil that has been plotted against you is the same evil that pierced Him in His side. He knows what you are facing, He knows what is attacking you, but you need to just hold fast to the promise that He assured us when He said He will never leave us! Jesus says be of good cheer; always be happy and don’t let your joy be stolen. He is saying, don’t worry about the uncertainty in this life, don’t worry about the obstacles that you face, because He has already faced them and came out victorious. He has already overcome this world, and if you dwell within Him, you will overcome too! SO BE OF GOOD CHEER!!!!!!! I believe James said it best,“consider it pure joy when you face trials and tribulations…” The most peaceful place in a hurricane is in the eye (middle); however, you must endure the storms outer realm before getting there... As a Christian we desire to be with Christ, so endure the outer realm (devil) to get to the place where you will find peace…
ALL FOR HIS GLORY!
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