John 16:33 - There Is Peace in Jesus Even in Tribulation, So .....
John 16:33 (NASB) "These things I have
spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In
the world you have tribulation, but take
courage; I have overcome the world."
INTRODUCTION
Courage grows from the presence of Christ.
Jesus summed up all he had told them this night,
tying together themes from 14:27-29; 16:1-4; and
16:9-11. With these words he told his disciples to
take courage. In spite of the inevitable
struggles they would face, they would not be alone.
Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles either.
If we remember that the ultimate victory has
already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ
in the most troublesome times. [Life
Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Nothing could be more verifiable: In the
world you will have trouble! We have trouble with
our health, marriage, children, career,
finances, even in our Christian walk, and the list
goes on forever! How in the world can we have
peace? This scripture clearly shows that peace and
troubles can go together! But how, you say? The key
is knowing that God is in complete control of
everything and that troubles in our life very often
cause us to seek Him more. "In Me" suggests that
there is a place of refuge, a place of peace, even
in the midst of real life problems. How can we
be found "in Him?" If you want to be in
Seattle, and you are not there, you must go there.
Take steps in that direction. The same applies
to the peace of being in Him. If you are
searching for peace in the midst of the storm of life,
spend time reading His word; speak often and long
to Him; listen for His still, small voice of
comfort. And peace will come! [In His Time; Walk
With Wisdom]
COMMENTARY
Coming to know the Lord at thirteen was a
turning point in my life. The adolescent years were
filled with deep grief and turmoil for me as our
family faced life with my father, who was an
abusive alcoholic. Each day as I was learning
everything I could about a heavenly Father, I had to
face my worldly father. There were times when the
alcohol and abuse seemed too much to bear, and those
days of trial and tribulation were
extraordinarily difficult.
One day while reading my Bible, I came
upon John 16:33. I remember weeping as I
experienced a sense of the Lord's presence. At that very
moment, God revealed to me that through him I could
have peace in all things and that although we
live in a fallen world, I could have joy through
him because the world has no power over God. He
has overcome the world. He is the conqueror,
defeater, and deliverer, and he reigns over all
things. That Scripture verse carried me through my
high school days until I left home to find
healing. God used it to give peace to my heart during
my toughest days.
Oh yes, and this is no small thing: My
earthly father now serves the God who reigns over
the world. He never misses church on Sunday.
Tina Samples is a music therapist,
worship minister, speaker, singer-songwriter,
pastor's wife, and mother of two boys. [The One Year
Bible Live Verse Devotional]
My discomfort in life is magnified when I
think that I shouldnt have certain struggles
because Im a Christian. An unexpected household
expense sends me reeling with financial anxiety. My
husbands grumpiness triggers the martyr in me. I
scream at my kids over something trivial. Wont I
ever change? Even that thought is extreme.
The reality is, Jesus Himself told us
wed have problems (John 16:33), but the sweet
luxury we have as Christians is to choose to bring
all our feelings to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
We Christians have the same problems as
everyone else, but the solution is different: Jesus.
With Jesus we can focus on the fact that we have
His mind (1 Corinthians 2:16) and His power,
love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). Through
praise, prayer, and gratitude, we can enjoy rest and
peace (Philippians 4:6"7).
Sometimes I remain still enough to tune
into the reality that in Jesus, Im safe and
secure. I admit that I often find that peace only
when Ive reached the end of my rope and my way
isnt working. In that moment of failure or
disappointment, Jesus is there, as He always is. When Im
in Christ, I realize the work has already been
done. I dont have to be afraid. Jesus has
overcome the world. I can take heart, find rest, and
receive all I need from Him. by Isabella Yosuico
Faith Step: Today, choose to focus on
Jesus and His completed work. Receive the grace
that you so desperately need and want. [Mornings
With Jesus 2020 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
Studies have found that 85 percent of the
things we worry about never happen. This means that
of all the things youre worrying about right
now, 85 percent of it wont happen. But what
about the other 15 percent? Well, the Lord will be
with you in your time of difficulty.
God has not promised that well live in
a pain-free world. Jesus said, Here on
earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But
take heart, because I have overcome the world
(John 16:33 NLT). We need to face facts. Loved
ones are going to die, and hardship will come
into our lives.
But here is the good news: we live in the
land of the dying, but we are headed to the land
of the living. Yes, death will come, but we
have this promise from Jesus: Dont be
afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living
one. I died, but look - I am alive forever and
ever! And I hold the keys of death and the
grave (Revelation 1:17"18 NLT). Im so glad
that He holds the keys. If I had the keys, they
wouldve been lost for years now.
Someone asked me not long ago what the
most spiritual moment of my life was. In other
words, when was the time in my life when I felt
Gods presence more than any other? I had to think
about it. And then I realized the most spiritual
moment of my life, the moment when I felt the
presence of God more than any other, was when I heard
the news that my son Christopher had died, and
God was there.
We can rejoice in the fact that God is in
control. He will be with us, giving us what we need,
when we need it. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Learn to live above your circumstances.
This requires focused time with Me, the One who
overcame the world. Trouble and distress are woven
into the very fabric of this perishing world.
Only My Life in you can empower you to face this
endless flow of problems with good cheer.
As you sit quietly in My Presence, I
shine Peace into your troubled mind and heart.
Little by little, you are freed from earthly
shackles and lifted up above your circumstances. You
gain My perspective on your life, enabling you to
distinguish between what is important and what is not.
Rest in My Presence, receiving Joy that no one
can take away from you. (John 16:33; 16:22)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am training you to be an overcomer - to
find Joy in the midst of circumstances that
previously would have defeated you. Your ability to
transcend trouble is based on this rock-solid fact: I
have overcome the world; I have already won the
ultimate victory! Nonetheless, as I taught, you will
have trouble in this world. So expect to
encounter many difficulties as you journey through
life. You inhabit a planet that is always at war,
and the enemy of your soul never rests. But
don't be afraid, because He who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world. This is good
reason to rejoice!
When you are in the midst of challenging
circumstances, it is crucial to keep trusting Me. Whisper
"I trust You, Jesus" as often as you need -
remembering I am always near. Ask Me to help you learn
all that I have for you in this trial. Look for
flowers of Joy growing in the rich soil of
adversity. The sunlight of My Face is shining upon you,
beloved. (John 16:33; 1Jo. 4:4; Psa. 145:18; Num.
6:25) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
Train your mind to think great thoughts
of Me! Many Christians are defeated by focusing
mainly on less important things - the news, the
weather, the economy, loved ones' problems, their own
problems, and so on. Granted, in this world you will
have trouble, but don't let troubles become your
primary focus. Remind yourself that I am with you
and I have overcome the world. I am nearer than
the air you breathe, yet I am infinite God -
King of kings and Lord of lords. I am also your
loving Savior and faithful Friend.
One of the best ways to enhance awareness
of My greatness is to worship Me. This connects
you with the Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit)
in a glorious way. True worship expands My
kingdom of Light in the world, pushing back the
darkness. An exquisite way to praise Me is to read or
sing the Psalms. Filling your mind with biblical
truth will help you resist discouragement. When
troubles assail you, exert yourself to think about
who I am - your Savior and Friend who is
Almighty God! (John 16:33; Rev. 19:16; 1:8) [Jesus
Always by Sarah Young]
I am all around you, like a cocoon of
Light. My Presence with you is a promise,
independent of your awareness of Me. Many things can
block this awareness, but the major culprit is
worry. My children tend to accept worry as an
inescapable fact of life. However, worry is a form of
unbelief; it is anathema to Me.
Who is in charge of your life? If it is
you, then you have good reason to worry. But if
it is I, then worry is both unnecessary and
counterproductive. When you start to feel anxious about
something, relinquish the situation to Me. Back off a
bit, redirecting your focus to Me. I will either
take care of the problem Myself or show you how
to handle it. In this world you will have
problems, but you need not lose sight of Me. (Luke
12:22-31; John 16:33) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
CLOSING THOUGHT
God has kept no secrets. He has told us
that, while on this yellow brick road [of life],
we will experience trouble. Disease will
afflict bodies. Divorce will break hearts. Death
will make widows and devastation will destroy
countries. We should not expect any less. But just
because the devil shows up and cackles, we needn't
panic.
Our Master speaks of an accomplished deed
... "It is finished" (John 19:30). The battle is
over. Be alert. But don't be alarmed ... The
manuscript has been published. The book has been bound.
Satan is loosed for a season, but the season is
oh-so-brief ... Just a few more scenes, just a few more
turns in the road, and his end will come. [Grace
For The Moment SB By Max Lucado]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
John 16:33 - Genuine Peace is Found in a
Relationship with Jesus Christ!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230225-0853.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
