Before I got out of bed this morning and while still half-awake in the wee hours, my mind was swirling with the litany of concerns that needed prayer. Shortly after my first cup-o-joe and checking the news and blogs that I frequent, I was off to the gym but could not shake thinking about the sheer volume of prayer items on my list. So, I prayed while working out; I prayed while showering; I prayed while driving to work; I prayed throughout my day. The day’s closure is now upon me and I am still praying.
As I reflected on so many needs, I was reminded of this raw statement from Jesus.
“In this world you will have trouble.”
Jn 16:33a
Before long I realized that there is not one waking moment in my years of existence when I have not had some measure of trouble or known others with trouble. The first part of this statement from Jesus is undeniably true for everyone. If not Japan, then Libya. If not Libya, then my good friend’s hurting marriage. If not my good friend’s hurting marriage, then Rob Bell’s uber-postmodernism and the ambiguity it begets. If not Rob Bell’s uber-postmodernism, then my brother-in-law’s advanced Parkinson’s disease. If not my brother-in-law’s advanced Parkinson’s disease, then my neighbor’s son who is diagnosed with cancer. If not my neighbor’s son, then…you get the idea. Surely you have your own litany of lamentations before God.
Lest I buckle under the weight of all these pressure points demanding every ounce of prayer time that I have, I was also reminded of the rest of Jesus’ statement.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Jn 16:33b
Without Christ the world is without a Victor. Without Christ the world is left to itself to manufacture peace. Without Christ trouble will be all there is. With Christ, however, we have a Victor. With Christ we have peace. With Christ we are assured that life is not simply a collection of random events composed of one difficulty after another. With Christ life is governed by a wise and loving God who is meticulously orchestrating the best possible outcome from every event. By the sheer grace of God these concerns for prayer are crafted to and will ultimately bring about God’s very best. Because we are united with Christ, then his victory, though partially realized in this life, will some day be our victory in all its fullness. How do I know this? Because “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom 8:37).
Someday this world will no longer be upside-down. Someday everything will be set rightside-up.
At times, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in all the pain & suffering swirling around us daily and lose sight of our personal Victor. Thx for this post Paul. Found it encouraging.
This is our hope, is it not? Come Lord Jesus, come!
Excellent post in reminding of our hope in Christ. I got half-way through the post and echoed Xavier’s sentiments. During such times I’m also drawn to Isaiah 25:6-9. All God’s promises are Yes and Amen in Jesus Christ!