DEVOTIONAL: John 16:33

 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows but take heart because I have overcome the world."

We worry so much, too much it would seem when reading The Word. I would say, it's hard not to worry when we see the condition of the world. In this passage God acknowledges that we will face many trials and sorrows but then He goes on to encourage us not to worry because He has overcome the world.

This passage reminds us to tap into our faith even when it feels difficult to do.  If were honest with ourselves, it is hard to be a Christian. God expects a lot from us , He sent Jesus to set the bar very very high and then calls us to be like Him! So often, we naturally fail at what He tells us to do - it's hard to love thy neighbour as we love ourselves especially if the neighbour isn't very nice, sometimes it's hard to honour thy mother and father because their ways seem archaic and it feels like they don't understand us or how the world operates today or it may be hard to be still and let justice be God's when we feel we have been wronged. Christianity is hard and I don't think God is surprised when we fail, He knows that we are only human and therefore fallible. Due to us being prone to sin, we are to ask God for forgiveness and to be quick to forgive others (another thing that is hard to do!)

Christians are encouraged to read their Bibles daily as it provides us with peace and better understanding of God and what He expects from us - reading The Word draws us closer to God. Being close to God and understanding what He wants from us and what He promises us can bring us comfort in those difficult times and like this passage says, there will indeed be difficult times but we can rest in knowing that God has overcome all the challenges of this world and so nothing is too difficult for Him to help us with - in Him, we too are victorious. 

Let us this morning say thank you for the peace that the promises of God provides. Let us pray for those who have not yet encountered the Lord's word and ask for God to reveal himself to them so they too may experience His peace and live in His victory. 

Amen. 

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

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