“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart because I have overcome world.” (John 16:33)
We live in a world where everyone spins each event or history in their own favor or in the favor of someone else. Everything we read or hear is through the grid of personal bias. We are left wondering; Who are we to believe?
Well, today we should give thanks to the Lord for not “spinning” or spiritualizing the truth about this life on earth. “Tribulation”, He says, is normative for those Christ loves….and He doesn’t hide us from that fact. And yet, we are surprised by this almost every time. It is almost as if no one ever told us. We often act clueless, like the disciples did about things He had clearly said would happen. “In this world you will have tribulation.”
But that is not the first thing He says. First, He says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.” He tells us this first because He knows that we will always look somewhere else for peace. We pursue peace and satisfaction and love to our dissatisfaction when we are not pursuing peace in Christ. He makes a clear contrast here, do you see it? Peace in Him…Tribulation in the world!
This is a pretty simple formula. Because of who He is and the peace He alone gives, taking heart and having heart are to be way more normative than losing heart. We will never experience a single Christ-absent, peace-empty, mercy-lacking, grace-void day, even in the midst of tribulation. For His peace enables us to endure till we are gathered to Him in death or He returns.
It is this peace in the midst of tribulation to which Paul speaks when he says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8:18). And there is Peter’s perspective. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Pet. 5:10). (Remember from Monday’s devotional)
No matter how many years He gives us on this world, the tribulation (which is guaranteed by Christ) in this life is only for “a little while.” In the grand scheme of things, it’s only going to hurt a little longer—a few more minutes on heaven’s clock. We can and will endure the tribulation that Christ affirms here because of Christ’s peace given to us and we, in His joy, recognizing that, Yeah, it hurts now, but it’s only a moment, from heaven’s perspective, and then we will be in eternity. He overcame the world by His death, resurrection and ascension that we might enjoy a glorious forever with Him and the rest of His family!
So today, give thanks to Him for giving us His peace, whether you are experiencing it right now or not… it is there for all who are in Christ. Paul told us in Romans 5 that all who are justified in Christ have peace with God. With that said…nothing else matters since God holds everything in His hand. Jesus tells us the truth, always… for He is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE!
