Written by Michael Kelley, Guest Contributor

“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

“Trouble” is a pretty general word.

It’s also universally applicable to life because, in a real sense, life is trouble.

Sometimes the troubles are with health. Sometimes financial. Sometimes with your career or other times with your children. Troubles at home, with the market, in the world, in the church… always trouble. These become markers – before and after moments by which we measure time.

We don’t look forward to trouble; some of us spend nights awake thinking about what trouble might be just over the horizon. We prepare ourselves against trouble and mostly seek to get through it as quickly as possible.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus was brutally honest with His disciples. Yes, He wanted to comfort them, but He would not extend His comfort at the expense of the truth. So He told them clearly:

“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).

That’s right – you will have trouble. Jesus told us it was true.

When the trouble that Jesus promised would come does indeed come, instead of being shocked, dismayed, or surprised, we can see that this is yet another confirmation that God keeps His Word. And His Word tells us that despite this trouble, He will finish the good work He started in us (Philippians 1:6) and will make good on the inheritance promised His children in Christ (Ephesians 1:11-14).

Jesus is no liar. Thank God He’s not.

DIG DEEPER
Read “The Spiritual Opportunity of Your No-Good Very Bad Day” by Jonathan Munson