“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33, ESV)

In this world, you will have tribulation. This verse is pretty straight forward. It is not ambiguous, but clear. It is not confusing. It would be hard to put another interpretation to it. You will have trouble. I have read this many times. I even have it memorized. So why am I always so surprised when things go wrong?

We have a wedding in our family this weekend. My daughter is getting married. My family and I are so excited about the wedding, and all of our plans are coming together well. We expected a perfect day. Then I hurt my back. Ok, a little setback. I will not be able to do all the things I envisioned, and I will be in some pain. It will still be fabulous.

Then we heard from a loved one that a serious medical condition needed attention. This was not the update we expected. We also were concerned about how to deal with the wedding and aftermath with this serious situation before us. Many mixed emotions flow from our hearts.

We love Jesus and know He loves us, so love and gratitude are pouring from our hearts. We are also questioning what God has planned. We are joyful about the wedding. We are sad that someone so dearly loved is suffering. We are confused. We are frustrated that we are unable to change things. We are proud of all involved for their strength and faith. We are excited, nervous, unsure, hopeful, scared, and some of us are even angry.

So, I have to question what I am thinking and what my goals are if the problems surprise me. I have to admit. I was not expecting anything but a picture perfect wedding. It is going to be something different from what I expected, but it is going to be exactly what God has planned.

Jesus told the disciples; you will have tribulation. Some versions say trouble. Trouble is coming guys, don’t be surprised or let it overwhelm you. I have overcome the world. So take heart, or have courage, because I, Jesus, God of the Universe, have it all under control.

After Jesus tells the disciples to be courageous, He prays. The prayer that he prays speaks of the future. It speaks of eternal life and God’s glory. The disciples heard Jesus pray for God to be glorified. He also says that God will be glorified because he gave us eternal life. It seems that our focus on God’s glory and eternal life are the key to remaining courageous during times of trouble.

If I am concerned about eternity and God’s glory, I will not be fazed by the trials of life. I will expect tribulation, but I will not worry because I know that Jesus has overcome all of the struggles of this life. He has given me an eternal hope. I must keep from being short-sighted and earthly minded. I need an eternal perspective. I must keep going for I have an eternal hope and purpose. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, NASB95)