These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV)
Somehow we get the idea that as Christians we should live a life free of trouble. So when we have trouble, we doubt our position with Christ. Our “Christian Friends” may counsel us to “have faith.” They may ask like the disciples, “Who has sinned?”
Christ promised us peace, not a trouble free life. Recently I was told I had a urology problem. It could be stones, or a tumor, but it must be something. I was troubled, but peaceful. I think as a Christian that’s where I should have been. Turned out there was really nothing significant wrong. But that’s not because I’m a Christian or because of my work with Kairos or because I do a daily blog. It’s because God is good. He doesn’t owe me good health. God is not a coke machine, dumping out goodies in exchange for something we do. A couple of years ago, I had a knee condition removed by prayer, when some great Christian friends ended up needing surgery. I struggled with that. Now the problem has returned. I’ll probably need the surgery. My “faith” wasn’t stronger then, nor were my friends weaker. God is God. He will do what He will do. Our role is to trust that He has overcome the world and rest peacefully in His will.
We have to be careful not to gauge our walk, by our situation. Our witness is not a problem free life. Our witness is peace in the storm, not the lack of storms.
Be careful about sharing your story too simply with others. We tend to say our life was hell before Jesus; now it’s great. That’s just partly true. We need to share No Jesus. No Peace. Know Jesus. Know Peace. That’s a much more honest explanation of the gospel. It doesn’t promise that saying a prayer will make a difference or that Christians live a trouble free life. It focuses on what Christianity really is: knowing Jesus.
Whether today is a day of trouble or not, God is still good.
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