“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27, ESV)

I have been struggling with fear. I see my country headed down an immoral slide. The slide seems to be getting steeper and we are picking up speed on our downhill run. As a nation, we are choosing a path that is contrary to the righteousness of God.

At another time and place when Israel was working in opposition to God’s laws, these were the prophetic words given to that nation. “Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.” (Isaiah 5:15–16, ESV) And, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!” (Isaiah 5:20–23, ESV)

This past week I felt an overwhelming sense of dread as I realized our nation’s disregard of the righteousness of God. We are calling evil good. We are calling good evil. We are calling darkness light. We are disregarding the Light of the world. Many people are finding out too late that what they thought was going to be sweet is actually very bitter. Many in leadership are full of pride, wise in their own eyes and feel free to trample on the rights of the little guy. Partying and illicit gain seem to be the new national pastime, forget baseball.

I know that the “Woes” in the passage are warnings. Woe is an interjection with a negative connotation. It is inextricably tied to grief and denunciation. It is a term of anguish and pain. “Woe” often precedes judgment.

So this week when I found myself crying out, “Woe to America for its unrighteous acts and ideology”, it scared me. And then I read John 14 through 17.

Jesus warned the disciples of the difficulties they would be facing. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1, ESV) “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18–19, ESV)

He also comforted them by reminding them that they had eternal life. Jesus also declared victory over the sin of this world. “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3, ESV) “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, ESV)

I serve this same, Jesus. I have eternal life. I can take heart and let go of worry and fear. I may have tribulation. There may be trouble. But Jesus has a plan for my eternal good and I am on the winning team.