He Has Overcome

“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)

Meditation

I have had more than a few tribulations in my life. I was usually the direct cause of most of them, although I always blamed someone else. Some of them were debilitating, and for long spells I couldn’t see an end to my suffering. I tried to drown my anguish with drugs and alcohol. I inadvertently started taking advantage of other people to make them hurt the way I was hurting. There’s an old saying, ‘hurting people hurt people,’ and I was hurting. I wasn’t consciously thinking about purposely trying to hurt them, but that’s what was happening, and I didn’t really care. Eventually I became numb, without any feelings about who I hurt, but the problems were still there.

Some people think that getting saved will solve all their problems. As long as Jesus is on their side, nothing will ever hurt them again. Nothing could be further from the truth. I still have some of the old trials, but added to them I add, the hard feelings unbelievers have about my faith. I was not promised that coming to Christ would mean a trouble-free life. In fact, Jesus tells me that trials and tribulations are promised, but my comfort will be found in him. I can’t imagine going through life and facing the terrible trials we all experience anymore without Jesus. Some of the trials I’ve faced since coming to Christ would have seemed impossible to overcome but Jesus is now my rock.

When I gave my heart to Jesus, he lightened my burdens and gave me peace. When problems inevitably arise, I just need to rely on him, essentially sharing my difficulties with him, he will see me through. I think of it as talking to my best friend about a problem I’m having. He wants me to trust him in good times and bad because he experienced and overcame them when he walked among us. I can tell you I am more content, even in the midst of a trial, than ever before, because I know and trust the one who has overcome. Everyone who walks the earth is going to have problems, some small and some that seem insurmountable. If we are going to go through these trials anyway we might as well have the greatest power in the universe on our side. Jesus wants to strengthen us and give us peace. All we have to do is trust him.

Daily Prayer

Lord God, you are maker of heaven and earth. We fall on our knees to honor and praise you for your magnificence. Father, we thank you for the victory that can be ours for submitting to your will. Thank you for the victory you have already won on the cross, taking our sins with you to the grave. When we are immersed into the waters of baptism, we are being symbolically buried, just like you actually were. When we rise from those cleansing waters, we are being symbolically raised from the dead, just like you actually were. Even with those victories, you have told us, we will still have troubles. However, because we have submitted to you will, we can have an inner peace that goes beyond understanding. You are ever faithful, so whom should we go to besides you for peace of mind in times of trial? There is no one but you that can calm our spirits and take away our fears for what’s to come. Thank you for the blood that washes us clean. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!