John 16:23-33

Be Still:  Lord, make me aware of your presence here with me. Thank you that your word is alive and breathing; would you use it to speak to me now. Amen

Read: John 16:23-33

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (v33)

Encounter: A 16th century priest, Dom Lorenzo Scupoli, says this about peace: ‘The devil does his utmost to banish peace from one’s heart, because he knows that God abides in peace, and it is in peace that He accomplishes great things.’

Trouble and peace don’t frequently go hand in hand. Trouble, or trials and persecution, is often defined by the absence of peace and instead marked by fear and anxiety. In fact, our bodies are biologically designed to feel the opposite of peace or rest in times of threat. Our hearts race, our minds are active and busy, and panic sets in. How much does the enemy rob from us by distracting us with panic? 

So how do we fight for that space of peace where God abides, when our world is so full of trouble. Jesus’ instructions are simple: ‘Take heart! I have overcome the world’. 

We remind ourselves of the simple truth that Jesus is not unaware of our troubles. No! He lived through them; he knows them better than anyone else. And yet he was able to have perfect peace, to sleep on a boat in the middle of the storm, to say ‘not my will but yours’. How? He knew who was really in control. Though it often appears as though the enemy reigns, we cling to the anchor fact that our God has triumphed, and the world belongs to him. Peace is ours, even in the midst of trouble. 

Apply: Simply take a moment to claim peace in Jesus’ name. He has won it for you upon the Cross. It’s yours for the taking. 

Devote: Jesus, thank you that you have overcome the world. Today I choose to live in your peace and allow you to do great things through me.