You can blame my pastor for this one. I didn’t even know this promise existed until he mentioned it one Sunday. For him, it was just a “footnote” in his overall sermon, but for me it was a solid upper cut that sent me reeling and then on fact finding mission. Sure enough, there it was.
“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 emphasis mine) Yup, there it is. Trouble. No ifs, ands, or buts. Just you will have trouble.
I was taught that one verse does not a Biblical truth make. Too many people have created entire doctrines around one verse, often taking it out of context. The beauty of the Bible is that it will always provide internal support and proof. If something is true, it will be repeated in other verses without contradiction. So I kept looking, and the verses kept popping up.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
Bummer. There it is again. We will have trouble. But then again . . .
Perhaps it seems like a strange promise to take comfort from, but I think we should be grateful that God gave us this promise. For now we can be ready. We know trouble is part of the human experience, so we should not be blindsided, feel betrayed, or bemoan our circumstances. God has told us we will have trouble. No, He has done more than that. He promised it.
But He promised something even more important as each of the above verses and all others in the Bible that mention trouble remind us and that is that our troubles are “momentary,” that God is “present,” and that He has “overcome.”
Yes, trouble is coming, but God is right there with us. As Psalm 91:15 tells us, “When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.”
“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 emphasis mine) Yup, there it is. Trouble. No ifs, ands, or buts. Just you will have trouble.
I was taught that one verse does not a Biblical truth make. Too many people have created entire doctrines around one verse, often taking it out of context. The beauty of the Bible is that it will always provide internal support and proof. If something is true, it will be repeated in other verses without contradiction. So I kept looking, and the verses kept popping up.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
Bummer. There it is again. We will have trouble. But then again . . .
Perhaps it seems like a strange promise to take comfort from, but I think we should be grateful that God gave us this promise. For now we can be ready. We know trouble is part of the human experience, so we should not be blindsided, feel betrayed, or bemoan our circumstances. God has told us we will have trouble. No, He has done more than that. He promised it.
But He promised something even more important as each of the above verses and all others in the Bible that mention trouble remind us and that is that our troubles are “momentary,” that God is “present,” and that He has “overcome.”
Yes, trouble is coming, but God is right there with us. As Psalm 91:15 tells us, “When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.”
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