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TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
SOMETHING TO PONDER
For years, I used to believe the lie that if I were a “strong enough Christian,” my anxiety would finally cease. If I just “prayed the right prayer,” or “had enough faith,” my mental and physical health struggles would go away. Have you ever been told these lies or tempted to believe them?
The reality is, being a Christian doesn’t mean living a life without trouble. In fact, Jesus tells us just the opposite in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble.” That trouble includes physical calamities and mental setbacks. But amidst that trouble, God sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit so that we would know we never have to face these hardships alone.
Knowing Jesus doesn’t mean our minds won’t still spin. It means that we can look to the one who steadies the world when ours is shaking. Because Jesus conquered death and the grave, we can look forward to a place where trouble will be no more. Today, you and I may continue to wrestle for eternal peace. Especially for those of us with diagnosed mental illnesses, it’s not as simple to “just stop worrying.” But did you know God died for us, too?
When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He also died for our struggles. This is why John tells us that these things have happened so that we may have peace in Him, not our circumstances. Yes, in this world, we will have trouble, friends, but these hardships are small and few in light of eternity. That doesn’t mean facing struggles will be easier, but it does give us an eternal perspective.