One thing you can count on in life is trouble. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble…” (John 16:33)
Trials, troubles, and tribulations are all part of this broken world. There’s no getting around it. The problem is that sin has broken our world, lives, and relationship with God.
The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”
Sin brings death and all its ugly cousins – things like pain, suffering, heartache, guilt, shame, loneliness, anger, hate, and so on.
What do we do with what seems like such a bleak future? We look to him, who overcame trouble for us so we might have the power to overcome our troubles.
Thank God Jesus didn’t stop talking when he told us we would face troubles in this world. Otherwise, we would all throw in the towel the next time we faced something hard.
Jesus went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We cannot overcome the world without Jesus.
We may ask, “If Jesus overcame the world, why am I facing so much trouble in life?” It doesn’t seem fair.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:12, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”
Did you catch that? “Don’t be surprised,” he says. “Be very glad.” In other words, don’t expect this life on earth to be like heaven. It’s not. But get excited because it’s coming for those who trust in Jesus to overcome.
Your trouble is designed to help you grow closer to Jesus, our overcomer. When you trust and love him, he works his goodness in your world through your trouble.
The Bible says in Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Do you love Jesus? If so, you’ve been called to a higher purpose. And God will work his goodness in and through your trouble. It’s his eternal promise.
The Bible says in Revelation 3:21, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Just as Jesus was victorious, we will be victorious when we face our troubles through faith in Jesus Christ.
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