Jesus has conquered your enemies so that you may have peace.
He never said He’d protect you from suffering. He did promise you that you would have peace in the midst of suffering.
You may be facing an opponent. It could be a failed relationship. Perhaps it’s depression. Anxiety may have taken up residence in your head rent-free. Your work or school situation may be smothering you.
When you understand that Christ is bigger than your suffering and more powerful than your enemies, then you can experience that supernatural peace.
Part of the human condition is that we all experience trials and troubles. And yet we are encouraged … taught … commanded to be joyful.
On its face – that’s nuts. Even knowing intellectually that God is on your side may not help.
How can that become a reality for you? Consider this:
- Jesus has overcome everything.
- Periodically – okay, daily – examine your life. Evaluate your work, your attitude, your actions. Are they pleasing to God?
- Are you holding onto anything negative? Emotions? Thoughts?
- Ask Him for His power to overcome anything that is oppressing or overcoming you.
God delights in giving you peace at all times. Christ walks with you through suffering and He will not abandon you in your pain. Here’s what Jesus said – you’ll find it in John 16:33:
“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.”
Which means:
- You WILL have trouble.
- In Jesus, you will have peace.
- You can always take heart, because Jesus is the Overcomer.
It is so easy to focus on what is going wrong. But God is unshakable. The implications are amazing – when God is in you, You can be unshakable. Trouble, suffering, hardship – nothing can frustrate you forever because you know God has overcome it all.
Ponder:
- This all sounds good, right? What steps do you need to take personally for this to be a reality in your life?
- Have you tried to yield yourself to Christ, only to find yourself in the same frustrating, hurtful place? Why is that so?
- What is keeping you from being the same kind of overcomer that Christ is? What can you do about it?