“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 (NIV)
Jesus warned us that troubles, disappointments and heartaches WILL inevitably come. But how we react to them is what drags us down into the darkness of the storm and turmoil, or lifts us up so we can ride it out in His light of peace.
Thankfully though Jesus told us, “in me you may have peace”. Living in Him is what makes the difference. But even then, being in Christ only makes it possible. Many of us seem to struggle with knowing how to make it so, especially while in turmoil.
Securing that peace starts with a conscious decision; do we go with our feelings? or resist them to practice living in His light of peace and hope. Are we going to react according to how our natural self is feeling? in fear, anger, blame or similar. Or are we going to choose to respond according to our new nature? in trust, hope and faith in God.
Admittedly, responding in faith is the hardest of the two choices for it goes against human nature. We see in Romans 7:19-25, even Paul the Apostle had to struggle with it. But it’s oh so worth it when we do!
As long as we live in this world, there is no doubt we will experience what the Bible calls, “trials and tribulations”, but experience has also shown me the more we get to know about Jesus, who he was and is, and become familiar with His righteous character and trustworthiness … the desire to go with our feelings grow less during those dark and turbulent times, as our desire to turn to Him in trust grows greater. And we can begin feeling His peace of mind and heart more quickly too, which truly is like no other.
Published in FaithWriter's Daily Devotional,1/5/25
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