"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Trials come. Waves of tribulation wash over us and take us under, causing us to flounder from the impact. The hard we didn't see coming, blind-sides us and we wonder what is up or down and where in the world am I?
-that phone call
-the diagnosis
-the relationship breach
and so on...
It's not a matter of if, it's only a matter of when this happens.
So while I understand the dynamics of hard, trials and tribulations, because I have my own to walk through and yet recognize each is unique to our own; this verse tells you and me a truth that helps us navigate the storms.
WE ARE NOT VICTIMS!! WE ARE OVERCOMERS BECAUSE OF JESUS!
Jesus tells us to take courage, (indication it's hard) because He has overcome the world. And IN HIM we may have peace.
That 'may' is critical, because it's available to us but we must access it. We need to choose Jesus in the storm and tribulation. We need to go on a treasure hunt and find the truths of Jesus because it's only in Him that we will find the Presence of Peace. He is Peace and it's through Him that we find peace.
Sometimes Jesus calms the storm and other times He calms me within the storm. -jel
The process of finding Jesus in the storm is not a box to check off, it's not even a straight line. It's more like a treasure hunt, lifting up stones and heavy ones at that, searching under this and that; persevering.
When the storm hits, the hard knocks us over, the tempest rages... the voices come.
The voice of discouragement, to give up. The voice that hisses in your head, "you are alone, no one cares". The voice of doubting God's presence and goodness. The voice of...
But we aren't stuck with those. We have the voice of God through His word, the Holy Spirit, and the 'heaps of stones' from past experiences of God's visible and tangible evidence of who He is. His is the voice that speaks, giving guidance.
In the storm, is the time we remember. We remember and recount, in faith and because of faith, the ways we experienced God before. We choose to believe the truths He says in His word and the ones that impacted us before. We anchor our heart and soul in the truth as weather-out the storm.
Whatever has happened to you, is the opportunity for the two kingdoms to speak - Satan's or God's.
These two voices give us a choice.
We can choose to listen to the blame game Satan hisses at us, the lies he speaks or we can choose to go to the words of Jesus and let His voice of Truth speak to us.
What/Who will you listen to? What/Who will I listen to today?
Jesus' voice and His words matter most. They are the ones that will guide us safely through the storm and anchor our hearts when we feel forsaken or alone. His truth is our one and only safe anchor and light to guide your steps and mine.
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