“TAKE HEART!”

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Through everything that we encounter in life, we can be grateful that our God is wise, loving, and completely trustworthy. He has told us that we will have trouble—because we live in this world—but when we feel overcome, we can believe that He has overcome for us. We can trust Him that it’s all taken care of—regardless of what it looks like. We can lean into the strength He gives us so we can hang on and press through.

Just hours before He would be arrested, flogged, and crucified, Jesus experienced a level of trouble we never will, yet He was able to say, “Take heart!” He was essentially saying, “Cheer up!”

Why? Because Jesus, whose Spirit is within you, is greater than anything the world can throw at you—even when it feels crushing (1 John 4:4). In Him, we can press on, knowing that there will be a happy ending, guaranteed. In Him, we can refocus our sight and thoughts to be above the circumstances we’re facing. We can rest that the real battle of overcoming has already been won. That’s when we can walk in unshakeable faith.

Lord God, thank You that You have overcome everything I could ever face. Thank You for strength to cling to the truth: You are faithful, wise, and loving—and You are growing my faith into unshakeable faith!