Heart-ache

Despair

Broken Relationships

Hatred

Emptiness

Jealousy

Confusion

Loneliness

And much more.

We all experience these trials, in some variation, at different times,

sometimes several at the same time making it hard for us to see the light.

Hard to see anything good.

Hard to make it through the day.

Jesus isn’t surprised. He tells his disciples – and us – ” In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

Some of our troubles are consequences for bad decisions we have made.

And some of them happen to us because we live in a broken world which is increasingly influenced by the Prince of Darkness.

Many of you know that the level of trouble in my life increased exponentially 6 years ago when my son, who was a Phoenix Police Officer, was killed in the line of duty.

Yes, I will have trouble.  I have a painful understanding of that reality.

And I have a choice to make in how I respond to these troubles.

I can choose to get lost in self-pity and focus on what I have lost.  I can get stuck on the edge of the big hole in my life and let the rest of my life be about what I no longer have.

Or I can choose to let God grow my faith through these trials.  I can let him become even more real in my life – a strong anchor in the storm, my faithful shepherd who lovingly leads me beside still waters and restores my soul.

I am choosing to ‘take heart’ like Jesus tells us to do.  I am choosing to believe that Jesus has already claimed victory over evil and this is all part of his plan.

I have come to understand much more clearly now that this world of sadness and hatred and lack of respect is not my real home.

Heaven is.

And Jesus has prepared a place for me there.

If you are a believer, he has prepared a place for you as well.

Until then, we will have trouble.