Words are not enough to hold on to when things are broken, but the Lord’s words restore and heal. His words are life to our flesh and healing to our souls in turbulent times.
Someone might say, “Take heart” when you are going through a life-shattering experience. It’s not what you want to hear. Stopping to read scripture in those desperate times is correct when you need to understand the truth of all Jesus went through to give you His Peace, and then you will know “you can overcome.”
(I want to share this with you. Please read it, please believe it!)
Your pulse doesn’t make your heart pump, but it is evidence of it.
In the Book of Hebrews, Heb 11:1
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, already yours, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].
John 16:33, you see these words.
Tribulation means pressure (literally or figuratively):—afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble
Take Heart means gaining peace, assurance, courage, or confidence to receive hope and joy by knowing the truth in His words.
Overcome
1Jo 5:4 – For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].
John chapter 16 came at the right moment for me. I needed to hear Jesus’ farewell words, and it was right before he prayed for his disciples. He brought words of wisdom to help me overcome.
Jesus’ Final Teaching
I highlighted a list from chapter 16 that stood out and helped me.
He spoke more about the work of the Holy Spirit. I need to be reminded of my helper.
The reason Jesus warns about inevitable persecution. I also need to heed His warnings.
He says Why these things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.
Jesus explains the benefits of His departure.
To our advantage-“It is expedient for you”
“for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
Then, about the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.
“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin.”
He will open eyes to see the actual state of their hearts.
“When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
He tells them, “A little while, and you will not see Me.” The disciples didn’t understand that the arrest of Jesus was only an hour or two away, and then His crucifixion would follow. Then He declared to them they would see Him again. ( resurrection morning)
He explains that coming sorrow is turned into joy. Jesus understood that the disciples wanted more clarity. He knew that they needed their hearts and minds prepared.
He said, “You will be sorrowful.” (because of loss of relationship and loss of hope)
He turns sorrow into joy; they are closely connected.
He says, “I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice.”
Then, He promises greater joy regarding their access to God after Jesus’ departure.
They will have undeniable access to God through Him. He shares with them how the Father loves.
These things I have spoken to you:
Jesus summed up the last three years in his proposed long talk with the disciples in these moments: Why?
That in Me you may have peace:
Peace in action He was living it loud right in front by example. For one, Judas has met with Jesus’ enemies to plot His arrest. Jesus knew that He was about to be arrested, already the beginning of being forsaken, then rejected, mocked, and humiliated; he knew the Romans were tortured and crucified before the next day was over.
Yet Jesus had peace and enough to give
Jesus said, “That in Me you may have peace.” We won’t find real peace anywhere else other than in Jesus.
I sing this song out loud at times to my ❤️
🎵 Peace, peace, wonderful peace
Coming down from the Father above
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love.
Fathomless- unable to be measured or understood; extremely deep. Billows – to rise or roll like billows of a great wave.
(read fathomless billows in the link below)
“He promises a peace which co-exists with tribulation and disturbances, a peace which is realized in and through conflict and struggle.” (Maclaren)
He said, “I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”
See, Jesus is in control; although He leaves, He does not abandon or forsake us; we know He loves us and sent us the Holy Spirit to help us, and we know that the victory is His. We can be of good cheer, “good cheer for the future.”
All of this teaching is from John Chapter 16.
