JULY 23, 2012
Troubled Times
Read: John 16:25-33
In the world you will have tribulation; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the
world. —John 16:33
If you’ve never heard of Murphy’s Law, you’ve probably
experienced it:
“If anything can go wrong, it will.”
Murphy’s maxim reminds me of the principle Jesus shared with His
disciples
when He told them, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33
NIV).
In other words, we can count on it—sooner or later we will hit troubled
times. It’s not the way God originally intended life to be, but when the
human
race first succumbed to Satan’s seduction in the garden, everything
on this
planet fell into the grip of sin. And the result has been disorder
and dysfunction ever since.
The reality of trouble in life is obvious. It’s the reality of
peace that often
eludes us. Interestingly, when Jesus warned His followers
about trouble,
in the same breath He also promised peace. He even told them to
“be of
good cheer, I have overcome the world” (v.33). The word overcome
indicates
a past event that has a continuing effect. Not only did Jesus
conquer the
fallen world through His death and resurrection, but He
continues to provide
victory, no matter how much trouble we may face.
So, although we can expect some trouble in this fallen world,
the good
news is that we can count on Jesus for peace in troubled times.
Dear Lord, thank You for always being with us.
We ask that when troubles invariably come,
You would renew in us once again the blessed
peace of Your presence. Amen.
In the midst of troubles, peace can be found
in Jesus.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012
