Take Heart!

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

What does Jesus mean when He says “in Me…” I have wondered about that. I have a concept in my head and heart about it that I struggle to put into words.

I sort of imagine like following the shade. I am a red head and I burn easily… so I am very familiar with this action. When it is hot outside, like really hot… not just a “oh what a beautiful sunny day”… I long for shade. And if I am in a chair or just standing in the shade I find myself shifting as the sun shifts so that I remain in the shade. Maybe if you’re blessed with tan or beautiful dark skin you do not fully understand the NEED for shade from the scorching sun at times. But this picture of an oasis in the midst of heat is powerful.

In this verse Jesus is not “candy-coating” anything! He is brutally honest. He tells us that being in this world is hard, it’s a challenge. We will face situations and circumstances that are difficult and disheartening. I know that I have faced situations and circumstances that I would love to have not gone through, but nonetheless I survived and most times thrived at the other end of those trials. And if I think back I know why I did not crumble… I know why I stood up under the difficulty.

Jesus.

That is the answer. So simple.

Jesus tells us the way to get through the difficulty… AND He tells us the end result!! How amazing of Him… It is like He totally just “cheated on the test!” He gave us the answer!

He says the way we get through it is to remain IN HIM. Like the picture of the shifting to remain in the shade. I need to remain in His shade… practically (cause I’m a very practical person) that would mean for me to be seeking Him for answers, for grace, for my sustenance during difficulty. This would mean that He is the One that I cling to and NOT push away from. I would spend time with Him, I would praise Him even when I do not feel like it, and maybe I would even declare His victory into the specific situations I am facing. The amazing thing I have come to realize is that God will bring me through tough things… and SO THAT I am able to walk with others through similar things. Nothing we go through is in vain. Nothing. It’s also a powerful thing that He promises us PEACE in the midst of difficulty. He says that as we are IN HIM we WILL have peace. Peace is a sustainer like few other things on this earth. If our souls are at peace most things are bearable.

Jesus shows us the way… AND He tells us the end! HE WINS!!

No matter what you are fighting through, and I am sure some people are facing things I could not handle, what I DO know is that Jesus has WON! He is the victor!!  

The phrase “take heart” is not used today… but what I understand it to mean is…

Be encouraged!

Keep strong!

WE can do it together!

Don’t give up!

And any combination of the above.

So if you are in the midst of some things that need His victory… TAKE HEART… He has won the victory! And in the midst of the continuing onslaught of difficulty… there IS PEACE for you! Find Him. Find His heart. Tap into HIS strength… that is where the “sweet spot” of His peace is. He is never far. He strength is ALWAYS accessible.