John 16:33

New International Version

“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.”

For Encouragement

Jesus was right. The world has all the trouble we could ever have. Since Eden, hardships have become a constant presence with humankind. Look around the world now and see the problems everywhere. There is a civil war in Sudan. The battle between Russia and Ukraine seems unending, and that between Israel and Hamas is escalating beyond proportion. The world economy is shaky and unpredictable. We have more wicked and unstable leaders than we ever bargained for. Disease abounds, death threatens and brings its devastation to homes, marriages continue to disintegrate, job losses, starvation, and increasing poverty in communities, and the list goes on. No one is immune to all of these troubles. It is one or the other today. 

In fact, you may be wallowing in some distressful times as you read this message, and you are worried. You are anxious, afraid, and dreading tomorrow. Is there hope on the horizon? Will the next hour be better when the medical report comes back?

I have enumerated all these to tell you one thing – child of God. 

Take heart!

Take heart because your Lord says so. He who has you engraved in the palms of His hands and has your wall before Him (Isaiah 49:16) knows the world in which He has left you as His disciple. He told this to His disciples in the Upper Room before the cross. 

Jesus had come to conquer where Adam failed – to overcome sin with all the troubles it unleashed on this world for our sake. He had experienced all hardship His disciples would experience and knew it would be a continuing experience for them. He saw the sorrow and anxiety in their faces and knew what they needed – assurance that He had it all under control. Even before His death and resurrection, Jesus had overcome the world. 

He had lived a sinless life and was qualified to offer Himself as our substitute on the cross. He knew death could not hold Him captive and that He would rise from the grave in perfect victory. So, Jesus comforted the disciples and closed the discourse with this strong assurance: 

“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

Then he prayed for them and every one of us who has and will ever believe in their message about Him (John 17).

So, for all your troubles, my friend, Jesus has overcome the world. For that reason, they will not defeat you. You ask how you can be sure. Visit the empty tomb where they laid Him and remind yourself of the miracle on the morning of the Resurrection Sunday. 

But He is not here to support you, someone might say. O, Christian! How soon you forget! He prayed for you as He prayed for Peter and sustained him. His High Priestly Prayer will also preserve you through every crucible. 

So, take heart and face the world in the overcoming power and victory of our Lord Jesus Christ with joy and gladness and see the peace that descends on you today (Romans 8:31-39).