Been a crazy week, not bad, but filled, busy, stressful to say the least.  You see my wife and I are trying to get ready for vacation, a blessed and much anticipated respite from work.  If you have ever taken some time off, you understand what I mean by stressful.   Meetings, completion of paperwork due while I’m away, tying up loose ends and then one last, unexpected pandemic issue.  Talk about a chaotic time, but then I read these words offered by Jesus in the Gospel of John,

” And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world, you will experience trouble and sorrow, but you must take heart for I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Take heart, that is be encouraged I, [Jesus], have overcome the world.  Reading these words, I realized that Jesus was about to be arrested, to be crucified, to die and be resurrected.  Jesus was telling the disciples then and each of us as followers today, trouble is around, difficult times will find us.  We may be confused or even overwhelmed.  That knowing this it may be easier to pull back or turn away but rather we must be encouraged, that we are in relationship with One that is greater.  That through our relationship with Jesus, in our acceptance of the Holy Spirit as our companion, God is present in our lives.  Jesus says, take heart.

When this world feels as though it will wash over you, overwhelm you I encourage you to take heart, remembering your relationship with Jesus, remembering these things, that our pain is not wasted, that God can use the difficult season each of us experience and that we find peace knowing that Jesus has overcome, has conquered the world.  Take heart in that.

Prayer: “Lord, I know that you are present in my life and when that vision waivers open my eyes wider, help me to reach a bit higher, make my ears more sensitive to your word, that I might be encouraged, that I take heart in the peace you offer.  Hold me firmly and guide me gently in your will and in your ways.  Amen”