Having Trouble? Take Heart!

"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

I love that phrase – take heart! It’s evocative. I immediately thought of that movie “Beauty & the Beast.” Near the end of the movie, Gaston is gathering a mob to storm the castle and he says, “Screw your courage to the sticking place.”

Take heart! Screw your courage to the sticking place.

Take heart is not a phrase we use very often. It means be encouraged, gain courage, be confident.

Jesus is speaking to His disciples. He reminds them that in Him they can have peace. Jesus is also totally honest with them. He tells them that in this world they will have trouble.

We all understand trouble. We all struggle with relationships, finances, job issues. Yesterday a friend of mine had brain surgery to remove a tumor.

In this world you will have trouble. But Jesus wasn’t done yet. But… I love that phrase! Take heart! I have overcome the world, Jesus says.

Take heart! Jesus spoke truth and then He gave hope.

We can be brave. We can gain courage. We can be confident because this world in which we have trouble has been overcome.
 Jesus is the conqueror. He has defeated sin and death. Jesus has overcome!

So, today, in the midst of your trouble, screw your courage to the sticking place. Jesus never changes. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Jesus has overcome the world!

http://youtu.be/_V0AwAYlRlI