In the years that I have been doing ministry, I have at times felt that I focus a lot on the negativity of the world. If you were to ask my wife she would probably say that’s because I am a “negative person”.

To be fair, I know my wife loves me deeply, and I know she is my number one fan and my greatest support. So when she says that I am a negative person, she’s not being rude or unloving, she just sees a part of me that most people don’t.

Allow me to clarify...

In a lot of the sermons I have ever preached, I don’t know that I have ever emphasized on the good news the Bible teaches as much as I focus on the darkness of the world. Not very pleasant or positive I know. But, let’s face it, most people, believers and non-believers alike really want to know the answer to the burning question, “If God is good than why...” and following that “why?” Is always a list of horrible things I.e... why so much death? why so much sickness? why so much evil? why so much pain? Why so much homelessness? Why so much heartache? The list goes on and on. These are legitimate questions, and I think a lot of my teaching for so long has the feel of dark and heavy because I believe those are the questions people want answers too.

However, last night as I was sitting in our weekly church service, and during the worship at the beginning, the tech team placed up a passage of scripture on the screens that has always given me hope in a hopeless world. In fact it’s a verse I have used countless of times to explain why, especially to believers, there is so much (___) in a God filled world. The verse used is an all time favorite of mine...

“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.”

John 16:33 NLT

Every time I have used this passage I always focused on the part where Jesus says “here on earth you WILL have many trials and sorrows.”Think about it. Jesus is speaking to his followers during that day, people who believed in who he was, and what he was preaching, and the truth applies to his followers today. We will have trials and sorrows in this world. We will have pain, we will have suffering, we will have heartache. I never focused on this part for the sake of reminding people that hard times are ahead for all of us (none of us need that reminder), just simply to point out that Jesus knew. Still doesn’t do much for comforting does it?

However, as for the many times I have taught using this verse, not until last night did something really stand out to me. While the message from Jesus is doom and gloom on the front part, his bad news is still followed by good news. The good news that Jesus alludes to here is that of overcoming.Jesus says, “Take heart, because I have overcome the world!” Wow! Let me say that again...WOW!!!!!

Do you understand how jacked up this world is? Babies are dying. Cancer is killing. The poor are left in the cold, and Jesus says this world of pain and heartache. This mess, this shell of what I originally created, this I have overcome. Jesus, with the cross before him, knowing his time was coming to fulfill his purpose says, all of the heartache and pain we will without a doubt feel at some point and time in our life, CONQUERED!

But how is iT conquered if we still are seeing the chaos of a broken world? This is what makes believers so weird. While the rest of the world asks “if God is so good, why is there so much bad?”Believers of Christ’s finished plan on the cross are saying, “this world is so bad, yet God is still so good.” I told you, w-e-i-r-d.

God didn’t design any of us to suffer in this world. That wouldn’t be a good God. God designed us to overcome the world. That’s a great God! He knew it wouldn’t be easy. His son faced a cross. But He knew through the strength that is only found in Christ you and I can overcome all of this suffering. Sure suffering and pain will still be there, but so is the promise of God’s word that never comes back empty. Pain and suffering are in this world, but weird believers know that this world is just as temporary as the pain and suffering that is in it.

Jesus’ words to take heart in our troubles are words of comfort. Jesus himself faced many troubles. He was the son to Mary, but Joseph adopted him. In that culture and during that time I’m guessing their were a few fingers pointing, eyes of judgement starring, and jokes being made at his expense. His life was threatened many of times. His cousin was beheaded by the king. His best friend died, and Jesus took on the cross. Yet he says take heart, I have overcome my suffering, I have overcome your suffering, I have overcome the world of suffering. The world isn’t bad because God isn’t good. The world is bad because many people have still yet to look towards a good God. 

There are so many ways we face suffering in this world. I encourage you to seek out Jesus for comfort. Your pain is real. Your brokenness is real. Your stress is real. Your doubt and fear are real, but God is real too!

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”

Revelation 21:1-7 NLT

Peace!