One of the most interesting statements that Jesus made in his days on earth was that in this life, we shall have troubles, but that we should take heart because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). In basic terms, Jesus was warning us of a profound reality of human existence–things will not always be as we expect them to be. In modern terms, he was telling us to be prepared to keep our heads up. When these times come, we often look for things to blame, such as fate, interpersonal challenges, or other external things. Here are a few things that can help us wade through troubled times.
Fallen World
Jesus did not mix up his words in saying there would be trouble in the world (John 16:33). After the Fall of man (Genesis 3:1-24) in the Garden of Eden and the consequent banishment from the presence of God, the world changed. The perfect world ceased since man was cast outside the garden. Toil and tribulation became the norm. Since then, trouble has been synonymous with this world, and Jesus acknowledged it. We will do ourselves a great favor when we realize that, as far as the world goes, no amount of positivity can completely alleviate the reality of troubled days. Romans 8:18-25 explains how all creation awaits to be saved from this brokenness. In that scripture, Paul says that the world was subjected to futility because of sin.
Dear saint, as long as we are here in this world, we are in a broken space, and one day, it will all be made new (Romans 8:18-25). This brokenness is not only in nature but especially in humanity. Our hearts are naturally bent away from God (Ephesians 2:12); therefore, they are prone to wander. That is why not all men shall give you an easy time and do what they must. People are broken in various ways, hence the need for a saviour to change our hearts (Ezekiel 36:25-27). This knowledge will help us manage our expectations of others, understanding that they are prone to fall short. It will sometimes be hard, but let your heart remember this fact.
God’s Strength is Enough.
Having settled your mind on the above, realize that there is only one place where we can find our strength as we journey through this world: in the Lord. Several Bible examples help us see how true this is.
Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness: After 400 years in bondage, God delivers them from the hand of the Egyptians (troubled centuries). After the deliverance, they sang to the LORD a song of praise, saying, “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:1-4). They could not free themselves from the Egyptians in their strength until the Lord came through for them.
Nehemiah reminds us that the joy of the LORD within us will give us strength to overcome the moments that weigh us down (Nehemiah 8:10). At times, it is hard to find a reason to be joyful when the world around us is crumbling down. Fight so your heart can find a reason to rejoice, even if things do not add up. Our strength is in the joy of the LORD.
Paul had a weakness he called a thorn in the flesh, which bothered him greatly. Thrice he entreated the Lord to take it away because, I believe, it was too much to handle. We all have such things in this troubled world- thorns in the flesh that make us groan in pain. But the Lord did not take it away. Instead, he told him that his (Christ’s) strength is perfected in that weakness, for when he is weak, in the Lord, he is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). At times, we will have to tarry a little longer in the troubled things of this life and trust that, since God is there, his strength is enough for us.
Our strength is weak, but God’s strength is enough–in fact, more than enough. Some of these troubles will weigh you down to the extent of giving up. Find strength in the Lord alone and avoid wallowing in the hopelessness of your limitations. As you trust him, you will realize that he supplies strength to the weary (Isaiah 40:29-31).
There is Hope for Tomorrow.
Finally, as we go through a life of troubles and trials, we must focus on something beyond the physical/the here and now (2 Corinthians 4:18). Jesus told the disciples that they should be of good cheer because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). Tomorrow is only assured in so far as we rest in the victory of Christ’s words, “I have overcome the world.” Do you believe this in your heart?
Hope is having confidence in what we do not yet see but anticipate, regardless of the challenges that may come. In the Bible, hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised, and its strength is in his faithfulness. The faithfulness of God is foremost in the fact that he never changes (Hebrews 13:8). If God came through for others in the past, then rest assured that he will come through for you.
Your ability to positively and eagerly anticipate that God will come through for you is tied directly to your ability to identify when it finally comes to pass. Remember, we cannot please God without our faith (Hebrews 11:6). What misconceptions do you have about God’s promises that are getting in the way of your hopefulness? Take some time to trust in God and see hope come alive in your heart. I had to get to a place where I was willing to surrender my expectations and embrace the ones he gave me. It’s easy to get carried away and lose sight of the fact that although God is a God of miracles, he is still a God of order. Take this time to prepare for what he has in store for you. Once God begins working, “there will be no hitting the pause button because the manifestation of your promise is tied to God’s glory and the expansion of his Kingdom” (Neves, 2022).
References
Neves, D. (2022, October 26). Hope for tomorrow — Dyani Neves. Dyani Neves. https://dyanineves.com/complete-in-christ-blog/hope-for-tomorrow
