“The enemy shall not exact upon him; Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: And in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, And his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.”
Psalm 89:22-26 KJV,https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.89.22-26.KJV
Don’t Be Surprised
There are some things that shouldn’t surprise us:
Winter blooming to life each spring.
The sun rising every morning.
Our ongoing need for food, water, air, and rest.
Change being an essential part of life.
Likewise, there’s no escaping the fact that life is messy and full of trouble. This beautiful world is fractured. But despite this, Jesus offers us hope:
“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
What “things” had Jesus just told His disciples?
He was honest about the grief and pain they’d endure but also about the future joy they’d experience. He was preparing their hearts for His death and their persecution but also for His resurrection and their salvation. Jesus’ encouragement to His disciples is also an encouragement to us…
We shouldn’t be surprised that this world is full of challenges—but Jesus is bigger than it all.
Following God ...