Champions Do Not Crumble to the Cares Christ Has Already Conquered

            If you like getting clues, Jesus is hinting at valuable information in the book of John chapter 16:33 which 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.”

Knowing we have a God Who knows what we are up against should give us perfect peace.

A good teacher knows the assignments and tests are hard, but they prepare you to overcome them. Similarly, God understands the minor and monumental difficulties each one of us will ever face yet He offers the powerful potion of peace. Somehow the sadness will settle, the craziness will mellow, and the demands will decrease. So, why not take peace for every piece of the puzzle? After all, one day it will all turn into a majestic masterpiece.

Jesus told us that in this world we will have trouble. Issues, derailments, and problems have no right to take us by surprise. Expect there to be trouble because that is exactly what Jesus warned us would come. When trouble comes say thank You Lord for giving me strength to overcome this. Thank You Lord for knowing this was going to happen and for already having a plan of victory.

Do you remember the feeling of winning? Maybe your high school sports team beat the opposing side. Maybe you won an award at work for good work ethic. Maybe you won the heart of your spouse. You are invited to be on the winning side of a war that has already been won. Jesus says, “But take heart! I have overcome the world!” Victory, jubilee, hallelujah to the Highest, God is victorious! Champions do not crumble to the cares God has already conquered. Where there is celebration of Christ’s extravagant, valiant love for you, there is no room for panic, just peace.

Photography by Jessica Ray

In His Joys,

Hannah Elise Abbott

            

How God Takes Grief and Gives Gladness

When you are going through challenges in life, it is easy to think that it will never get better. Extreme blows to your health make it hard to think that healing is just not happening. Losing loved ones feels like your heart has been ripped out. Not getting the outcome you expectantly desired hits hard. It is tempting to fall into the trap of thinking that grief is all you got.  

This morning I read John 16:21-22 which says, "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

What would we live like if we truly believed when Jesus said that there will be a time when “no one will take away your joy”? Certainly, Bible characters who lived this example must have believed that complete joy amidst grief is a gift from God. One of my favorite stories about joy breaking down the chains of grief is Paul and Silas. The Bible says in Acts 16:25-26, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose.” 

Can you imagine if the first thing we did in the midst of our despair was to break into song about our Savior? Chains would be broken. Healing would take over. Matters that seem colossally challenging would crumble. You don’t have to give birth to a child or be in prison to start discovering how God takes grief and gives gladness! Open the gift of gladness and God will unwrap your grief.

In His Joys,

Hannah Elise Abbott