John 16:33 “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.”

As much as I quote this verse, there’s still something fresh to get from it. I just had a little difficulty typing it in Japanese because Microsoft didn’t want to give me the characters used for “trouble” when I typed it in phonetically. The characters used in this translation start with the one meaning “a patient,” as in a sick person. God is our healer, but disease and injury are part of the human condition. As I typed that I thought of Joni Tada, who broke her neck at 16 but went on to become a magnificent Christian example and teacher. I ran into a video of her just the other day, and she is still inspiring. She believes in divine healing, and indeed has prayed for others and they have been healed, but that has not been the road the Lord has laid out for her. It took her a while to get around to it, but she has discovered the truth of the first part of this verse as well: she has divine peace. There are many who have good health but no peace. I’d say she got the better end of the bargain! As I have pointed out numerous times, Jesus said this before He was arrested, scourged, and crucified. Even so, He states as accomplished fact, “I have overcome the world.” Overcoming doesn’t necessarily look like what we think it does! At the very least, we need to remember what Jesus overcame for us, and not complain.

This is something the Lord has been working into me for quite a few years now. There was a period in which I quoted this verse in just about every sermon! The only thing new this morning is the specific inclusion of disease and injury in “trouble.” I guess that’s why I responded so calmly to breaking my wrist back in January. I’ve seen all that my wife has gone through medically speaking, and compared to that, surgery for a broken wrist was no big deal! We have close family members that are going through a lot medically right now, and this verse is applicable for them as well. I need not only to keep my own faith fixed on my Lord but to help them do so as well. Even the gift of faith isn’t just for me! I need to be the steward God wants me to be of all He provides, tangible and intangible, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I didn’t expect it to be so timely! You know who needs Your touch right now, and how. I do pray that all of Your purposes for allowing this situation would be fulfilled, for the blessing of each person involved and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!