In this world you will have trouble…

I use to like New Years, it was a time to reflect. See where you’ve been – how far you’ve come. We’ve had hard years, I’ve lost 3 out of my 4 grandparents. All who lived within a mile of my house growing up. I thought I knew what loss was like. But this year has brought a whole new level of grief. Loosing my dad so horrifically shook me to my core. Broke me.

I cried on and off most of the new years eve, grieving the year one that has past. Not sure I could bare a new year, with new losses. I wrote a friend way too late sharing a specific struggle and asking her to pray I could get some sleep. While chatting we both agreed the new year can feel like, “Oh great, what is going to happen now?!” I’ve been contemplating that a lot. I’ve been reminded of the passage 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.”

We are actually told by the Lord himself that we will have trouble. Our feeling of “Oh great, what now!?” Isn’t totally wrong. It’s pretty accurate. He spells out to his Disciples in John 16 all about what kinds of trouble.

In verse 2, he doesn’t only say they will put you out of the synagogue, but he even goes on to warn them that when they are killed, people will think they are doing a service to God. (sound familiar, especially in these days?)

In verse 12, he says he has even more to tell them but they could not bear it. What? That’s not very comforting.

Thankfully he tells us exactly why he told us this…

“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.”

If we stay in Him throughout this life we will find peace. We will make it through.

I think going into the New Year with goals, high hopes, and ambition is a good thing. We have much to look forward to, but don’t loose heart when the trouble comes. Because it will. The end of the verse says…

“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.”

Ultimately, we will be renewed. We will see our believing loved ones again. We will get our mansions. We will be fully healed. We just need to be patient. We need to serve the Lord where and when we can and those things will come. We can bank on Him.

“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.“

Take heart dear ones. If you’re not feeling chipper about the New Year that’s okay – just don’t give up on the one who has already overcome our trouble. We WILL be made new.