I will readily admit … I do not like change. I just don’t do well with it. I am a routine kind of person. I like to know when the next shoe is going to drop. And that is a problem.
The reality is – we truly are not able to know when that is going to happen. From one day to the next, circumstances change. Our lives can look entirely different.
Why? Why does change surprise me?
Jesus, in a conversation with His disciples, tries to prepare them for what is going to come. He fully knew difficult days were ahead as He would soon be crucified, and the disciples scattering. He knew their lives would be in turmoil and their minds plagued with questions. And so, He tells them this:
In this world you will have trouble. (John 16:33, NIV)
Wait. He doesn’t say, “You might” or “Occasionally you will have trouble”. No, He states, almost like He is making a promise, “You will have trouble.”
When Jesus uses the word “trouble”, He is not meaning light issues. No, He means to “convey the picture of something being crushed, pressed or squeezed as from a great weight.” (New Testament Lexical Aids, The Key Word Bible). Perhaps He is meaning the same as the saying, “The weight of the world on your shoulders.” This word trouble was “used to denote grievous physical affliction or mental and spiritual distress.” It is a word signifying to be weighed down with cares and stresses. A burden way to big for one to handle on one’s own.
Now I don’t know about you but this is not the sort of promise I want to have spoken to me. I would so much rather the promises of joy and peace and gladness. And yet, in this portion of Scripture, I note Jesus telling me three things:
- Peace is possible during times of trouble. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” (verse 33). In and through Jesus, we can remain calm and tranquil during times of trouble. His peace brings us the ability to be untroubled and undisturbed. His peace brings us well-being in the midst of the trouble.
- We are to take heart. I love the fact that Jesus puts an exclamation mark … “But take heart!” (verse 33). He is telling us to be courageous, to cheer up. And He also tells us why we can do this …
- He has overcome. We can have peace, be courageous, and cheer up in the face of trouble because Jesus tells us, “I have overcome the world” (verse 33) . In all things, He has overcome and made us conquerors through Him. Nothing, not a single thing in this life, will ever be able to separate us from God and His love for us. Not a thing.
So we pull ourselves up by our spiritual bootstraps and we keep moving forward knowing He has it all covered.
Trouble is inevitable.
But victory is promised.
He has overcome.
Today I am linked with … Testimony Tues. and Playdates With God and Titus 2 Tues. and Teaching What Is Good and Titus 2sdays and Soli Deo Gloria and Unite .
Great post! I have to admit the Eyeore picture got me to “click” 🙂 I was not disappointed though. Very encouraging, I don’t like change either!
I am glad you were not disappointed as I suspected Eeyore would draw people in. Yet the cloud over his head so depicted the feeling of “trouble” to me. Grateful for your visit. Have a great week!
Thanks, you too! And, yea I find it funny that so many love Eyeore when really he is a Debbie Downer 😉
Perhaps so many love Eeyore because we see a little bit of ourselves in him 🙂 Such a good point!
Yeah I don’t do well with change either…at least not initially. I’m learning to take a deep breath and to look for God’s presence in the middle of whatever is going on. Hard to do. But so comforting when we do it! Thanks for linking up to Testimony Tuesday.
Holly, you make such a good point. I don’t do well with change INITIALLY. And then as I begin to see His hand in the change, I embrace it, realizing how loving & wise He was in the change. Love this point! Thank you for sharing it with me!
See, I’m one of the strange people who loves change…and currently I’m sort of stuck on a place where change isn’t happening. 🙂 Never content, us humans!
You are so, so right about the trouble. And it’s so easy to focus on that. But if we remember the big picture, that victory IS promised and He HAS overcome….it makes the trouble far easier to survive!
Jen, I don’t think you are strange at all. I think many love change. As we maintain a right focus, we make it through the season of change. Maybe even with victory 🙂 Thank you for sharing here with me!
Change is exciting to me. The new opportunities. The new starts. You are correct – we have been promised trouble. Choosing to follow Christ is the hard road, not the easy one. As you stated – He has overcome the world. He is always with us. It will be exciting to see what He has for you in this season of change!
I don’t know that I am excited to see but I do know I am anticipating what He has in store for me & my family 🙂 I do know with a certainty that the change will come from the hands of loving & wise God. Thank you for encouraging me here, Tam!
I think its human nature to dislike change. Thanks for sharing the definition of trouble – crushed, pressed or squeezed as from a great weight. I definitely have experienced plenty of that~
Lisa, the definition of trouble spoke so deeply to me yesterday when I read it. Grateful our Lord has overcome all & promises us we will too.
Yes, this kind of trouble is not meant to be carried by ourselves. And I am so glad God has called us into a kind of community where we help bear up each other’s burdens!
Jen, so very true. We are meant to be in fellowship with God & others. And that is where we draw our strength to overcome. Blessings, friend! So good to see Soli Deo Gloria again!
I’m not sure I’ve ever thought about those three words–but take heart. I love them! I think they will become my go-to words on those days the burdens overwhelm.
Those words, “take heart” have spoken deeply to me. At times, I think I have waited to feel brave or cheerful & God is saying move forward as if you already are. Sometimes I feel like He may even be daring me or perhaps it is that He is challenging me to take heart in faith 🙂 No matter,nay we both “take heart”!
First I will be praying for you and the changes that are coming your way. Second, isn’t it just like God to be honest to the point that it makes us feel uncomfortable? Yes, we will have trouble but the beauty lies in the three things that Jesus is telling you and all of us – peace is possible, take heart and we will overcome. Thank you for the reminder that God is greater and stronger than all the trouble that will come our way. Blessings my friend!
First, thank you for your prayers, Mary. Much appreciated! And yes, I am so grateful that in these seasons of change, God comes alongside of us to strengthen & encourage. So grateful for His written word to me, to us!