Things I Want My Tribe To Know- #4

Things I want my tribe to know…

4. God wins!

John 16:33 says, “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.”

The main theme of the book of Revelation is God triumphs over evil.

These days, it so easy to live in fear.  I did not think that in my lifetime I would see the things that I have.  Things such as our society blatantly going against the bible and challenging Christians as not having tolerance.  Also, the senseless violence is outrageous that we see now.  Just this morning, we woke up to a mass shooting in Las Vegas with the loss of so much innocent lives.

We constantly question what this world is coming to.  Once we travel down that road of questioning, our hearts turn to fear and anxiety.  But Jesus says, “Take heart!”  What does take heart mean?  If you take heart, you are encouraged and made to feel optimistic about something.  I also think He is saying, “Do not be surprised.  Bad stuff is going to happen.  But never fear!  I am in control.  Victory is already mine!”

God does not want us living in a constant state of fear and worry.  In fact, He says, “Be anxious for nothing.”  He wants us to consistently pray and trust in Him.  God does not command us to do something that is impossible for us to do.  In fact, He equips us for His commands.  It excites me to think that He tells me not to be anxious because I know He has made it possible to be able to not be.

Jesus was a fitting example of this when He was sleeping on the boat during a storm.  When the disciples woke Him afraid of dying, He asked them, “Why are you so afraid, you of little faith?”  Then He got up and calmed the storm (Matthew 8:25-26).  Do you ever wonder if God looks down on us living in fear and anxiety and thinks, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?”  I wonder if He thinks, “Why don’t you trust that I’ve got this?  You claim to live for me yet you worry constantly over everything.  Be still.  Trust.  Take heart.

It is human to worry.  It is giving into the flesh and letting the feeling of being out of control that drives us to fear.  When we fully know who is in control, we live a life of being okay with not being in control.  We must accept and surrender.  

Accept and surrender.  

Two very difficult words.  

Words that, once we give in to, lead to a life of contentment and trust and hope in Jesus Christ.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus came to save the world.  He overcame evil and He gave us all that is necessary to live a hope of faith and hope and not one of despair and mental anguish.  Praise be to God who has overcome evil and wins!