“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John chapter 16, verse 33)
Curiosity
Human beings are always curious about what will happen in future. Most of us still make our minds have positive expectations for the future. But as it says, life is uncertain. We plan something but things do not always happen the way we expect. But what if life is not as we had hoped it would be? How do we manage unforeseen events?
To us another person’s life may appear fairly trouble-free. Still, we cannot know what may be happening in their lives. To you, the other side of the hill is always green.
We as normal people, how do we feel in despair? Do we recollect ourselves to appear gifted, with some precise intellect to present to the world? When we are facing challenges, we may have no unique passion from which to draw strength. How can we overcome despair?
“Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy chapter 1, verse 15) But when He knew about the time of Him leaving the Earth, He told the disciples that, “you will leave Me alone” in his greatest hour of need. But don’t be afraid, the Holy Spirit will comfort and guide you.
Jesus instructed His disciples to put away any false doctrine of prosperity. Make no mistake, seeking the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and living wisely unto God will make it highly likely that you will prosper (Matthew chapter 6, verse 33), but no one, Christian or non-Christian, avoids trouble in this life if they live very long.
“I have overcome the world.”
When Jesus spoke these words, He had not yet faced his trial within the Garden of Gethsemane. He had not suffered the mocking, beating, spitting, and torture at the fingers of the Jews and the Romans. He had not yet been abandoned by all his followers, betrayed via His disciple, or denied by using one among His closest friends.
He had not yet been hung on a cross and forsaken by His Father for the only time in all of eternity. And yet, He had already overcome the world. It is evident through the words He used (I have, in preference to I will). “He would face what was to come because he was the Lamb slain since the foundation of the world.” (Revelation chapter 13, verse 8) As His followers, we can also face anything due to this fact. In Him, we too have overcome.
We should know that it is impossible to know the future, but we should be assured by living in God’s grace. Even if startling difficulties take us by surprise, we are safe in His hands.
Jennifer Javed Khan is a PSI young writer from Pakistan.
