Bed of Roses - Bed of Nails

I wanted to share one of my life verses today. It's in John 17. Right in the midst of warning His disciples about what was about to happen and the fact that they w0uld be scattered and Jesus would be arrested and killed He said this:

"In the world you will have tribulation, but be of cheer, for I have overcome the world."

I think too often we think that when we come to Christ He automatically fixes everything - like a supernatural virus scan and spam blocker, Jesus keeps all trouble from coming our way and fills our lives with happiness and money and health.

Then when we experience a job loss or sickness or bills we can't pay for have an accident or are homeless or some other calamity befalls us - we either blame God for not protecting us or oursevles for not having enough faith.

I think that whole notion is wrong. Jesus said you will have tribulation. It's a fact. Now God uses that tribulation in ways we won't know fully until heaven. But I am struck by the latter half of that verse. Jesus said "be of good cheer because I have overcome the world."

Jesus didn't say to leap for joy or that we'd always be on top of the world, but he did say we can have good cheer - why? Because Jesus has overcome. Jesus has overcome your loss. Jesus has won over your trouble. Jesus has claimed victory over the worst thing that can come into your life.

It doesn't mean you won't experience trouble, but it does mean you are not alone and that you have someone on your side who has already overcome it. Now what He allows to come your way is okay. He is in control.

Pastor Tom