trials & sorrows

John 16:33b

Here on earth you will have many trials & sorrows.

But take heart,

     because I have overcome the world.


All of us have "stuff" happen to us.

Some of us have really gosh-awful stuff happen to us.

And some of us seem to have stuff happen over & over & over again - like there's no let up.

In this short verse, Jesus is talking to his disciples on the night before he was crucified.

These are the last things he told them.

I doubt that He was trying to be subtle.

He was probably cutting to the chase about a lot of things, giving them bullets of truth,

     things they could hang on to in the days, weeks, & years ahead.

Jesus knew what was ahead for them all.

He knew the "trials" & "sorrows" they'd each have  in their brief lives.


Jesus knows all the trials & sorrows so far that have been in each of our lives.

And He knows the ones to come - for each & every one of us.



And in all that, He says to His disciples, & to all of us, the same thing...


Take heart (iow... hang on, or don't be afraid, or don't have a meltdown)

I've got you covered.


Do we each believe this?

Do we REALLY believe it?

If we do, then how should we live our lives?