“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus had just spoken to His disciples of the things that were to happen. He would return to the Father. His disciples assured Him that they believed Him because He was speaking plainly to them and not in a proverb. But Jesus refuted, this revealing to them that the time was coming when they would doubt and leave Him. He was speaking of the arrest to come when they all would scatter and the crucifixion when they would doubt everything, He had told them. He was speaking to them of “these things” so that when “these things” happened, they would have peace. The confidence they had in themselves and what they were sure of would be shattered.
Jesus speaks to us also from these verses. Do we really believe what we believe? Our words and actions many times betray us. Like the disciples we think we believe. We think we are sure about what we believe until we are put to the test. Jesus warns us “in the world you shall have tribulation.” We should not be surprised about that, and yet we are. Any kind of hardship is difficult for us mentally and emotionally. If our faith is not settled on the Lord, “these things” that turn our lives upside down, can destroy us. But Jesus tells us not to be surprised. That’s the way of this world. He’s told us this so we won’t be surprised, so we will know that He is still on Throne and so that we will standfast in what He has promised.
This Scripture has a double punch. It has good news and bad news. The bad news is that we live in this world. We can’t avoid it. Tribulation is inevitable. It’s a sure thing. Jesus knows how bad things will get. He knows our weak dispositions and how easily we will doubt all the promises He has made to us. He assures us that knowing beforehand that tribulation is coming should give us peace and He commands us to be of good cheer, to take courage because He has taken control now. He has overcome the world.
Does knowing beforehand that something unpleasant is coming bring peace? It will bring peace when we remember all the promises the Lord has made to us. It will bring peace when we prepare our souls with His assurance. Jesus has assured us that He is in the midst of the storm and able to calm it. (Matthew 8:23-26; Mark 4:35-40; Luke 8:22-25) Time and time again, Jesus asked His disciples, “Where is your faith? Why are you fearful?” Time and time again He told them and showed them their little faith.
We can be bold and courageous when all is going well. But what happens when trouble comes? Are we still as courageous or do we fall apart? Do we speak God’s Word of faith, or do we begin to agree with the devil and fear? Jesus spoke to His disciples about the persecution that was coming. “And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” (Matthew 10:18-20; Mark 13:9-11; Luke 12:11-12) He teaches us what to do. We are to speak what the Holy Spirit is saying. In every circumstance, the Holy Spirit is speaking life. Our doubt is speaking fear.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18:21) This is not talking about any superstition that we can chant to relieve our trouble. This is the power of the Word of God that is alive, creative and able to accomplish what it says it will do. It is God’s Word that created this world. It’s God’s Word that has declared the end from the beginning. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isaiah 46:9-11)
It's human nature to fear and to be doubtful. But even if in the inside you are trembling in the moment of adversity, rely on the Truth of God’s Word. Declare it and don’t move from it regardless of what you see, hear or feel. If God declared it there is no other authority higher than that. There is no power greater that God’s. There is no Truth more faithful than God’s Word.
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