“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
Nobody wants trouble, yet it seems to be quite easy to see it all around us these days. Conversations often revolve around the chaos of war, fear over what’s happening in politics, and a general concern about violence.
Our world is stirred up right now. Difficulty often seems nearby.
Jesus counsels us to take heart (John 16:33). Although it is certain we will have troubles in this life, He promises us that because He has overcome, we also are overcomers.
The key is to remember this truth in the midst of the turmoil: Jesus is greater than any anxieties we experience. Even when we don’t see God’s solutions immediately in front of us, He is firmly in control.
When dilemmas are great, we can find ourselves so focused on the trouble that we forget to look to Jesus to direct us toward heaven’s solutions. We become fixated on the problem and that can make us feel hopeless – like it will never end.
What we focus on, we empower. We can’t see God’s solutions when our attention is only on our problems.
When we are in the midst of trouble, remember – God has a way when there seems to be no way.
Here are some truths to remember as you pray and wait:
1. God has a plan. War, riots, politics, and upheaval make things feel crazy and out of control. But that’s not reality. God is still God. He sees the big picture and has solutions that you and I don’t see without God’s help. Look up and ask to see God’s perspective on your situation.
2. Your prayer has been answered. You might not see the evidence of it yet, but your answer to prayer is coming. God promises that your prayer is answered – you can trust Him with it. He says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11: 24). When we agree with heaven about the situation, our influence over the situation increases.
3. Satan makes more out of it than it is. God is bigger than any trouble. Satan is defeated. Christ took care of this with His death and resurrection. Now all Satan can do is bully you into believing he has power over you, using fear to control you. When we look to God for our solutions, the size of the crisis shrinks. Praise Him and watch your perspective change.
4. The Lord is with you in trouble. The Son of God was in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew men (Daniel 3). After the trouble was over, they didn’t even smell like smoke! David said that when he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord was with him (Psalm 23). God never leaves your side. He will be right there with you through it all.
5. You will come out of this trouble much stronger. In times of difficulty, choosing to turn to God will bring you strength, peace, and awareness of victory. As we emerge from challenging situations, we find that our faith has grown stronger and our outlook has become more radiant.
My prayer for you is that you will strengthen your heavenward focus even when the troubles of life weigh you down. May you experience the hope that only comes from God.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” – Psalm 62:5
