'But Take Heart!'

“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

Your journey of life has been aligned by God long ago. He has ordained your future and the destiny that you should go in this life. The Lord knows every single thing about you in perfect detail. Not even a single thing will surprise Him about your life. Nothing is hidden from God. Do you know how much God loves you? Each day He takes His personal interest to be beside you to make sure everything is well with you. Hearing me saying that, you might ask, ”Benjamin, if God is with me, why am I still facing problems in this life?

My friend, God did not promise a comfortable journey in this life, but He does promise a safe landing. See what the Lord said. “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. In your journey of life, you will come across many trials and challenges of life. When we go through life‘s difficulties, it does not mean God is not with us, and it is not that He does not love you. He has given us His peace so that we will be able to stand and face life’s challenges. His peace is our strength in times of trials so that we might stay calm in our faith and continue to move forward in life.

Now see the word carefully; He warned us that we will face challenges “In this world you will have trouble” but He never stopped there, He continued by saying the word of encouragement. “But take heart”. In other words, the Lord is saying to each one of us not to give up and not to let go of our hope by agreeing to the challenges of life and being stagnant there. He wants us to press on and keep moving no matter what comes our way. The word ‘take heart’ is a word confirming that we still have hope in any circumstances. Who’s ‘hope’ is this that we can hold on to? Is that the hope that the world often tells us? Dearest, it is none other than the Lord’s hope alone. He has given us great assurance and hope through His finished work at the Cross of Calvary.

Now see what the Lord said at the end of this Scripture, “I have overcome the world”. This is the hope that will enable us to overcome anything in this world. Nothing is too difficult than to bear the whole world’s sin and die on the cross! Even those difficulties the Lord has overcome it. How much more He is able to do other things! If you belong to Him, that means He is living in you and His victory is in you as well. By knowing who you are in Him and who He is in you will enable you to face life’s challenges and come out from the challenges even stronger than ever before. Remember, do not face your challenges in your strength, but face it in the strength of the Lord. He who lives in you is far greater than anyone in the world. You are an over-comer and you are a victor in the Lord. Your journey of life might be uncomfortable, but through His hope, you will land safely.