Articles
Take Courage; I Have Overcome the World
As Jesus prepared His apostles for His death, resurrection and eventual ascension to heaven, He
shared with them the knowledge that they would face the same persecution that He faced (John 15:18-
25). He began with the encouragement, “Do not let your heart be troubled;…” (Jn. 14:1). He followed
with the familiar words, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give
to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (Jn. 14:27). No doubt, the apostles were
confused and perhaps more than just a little concerned for their own safety and wellbeing as Jesus
patiently shared with them what to expect in the next few hours and days.
Our world appears to be in dire straits! Even though somewhat diminished, there is still a fear of
COVID. We see in the news the influx of illegal immigrants, the senseless killing sprees, the continued
debates dealing with LGBTQ, gas prices soaring, job loss, etc. What has happened to our world! If that is
not enough, each of us deals with our own personal struggles with family concerns, health issues, and
money problems. With everything going on around us, it is easy for our focus to be drawn away from
those things most important. We may find ourselves fighting depression, fear, worry, and anxiety.
God’s children need to renew their trust and faith in the Lord! Consider the following:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your
faith produces endurance” (Jas. 1:2-3).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).
As God’s people, we have a great opportunity to let our lights shine toward Jesus in a very dark
world. We need to show our faith in Christ and our longing to be with Him in heaven. We may not be
able to change those things going on around us, but we can show the way to Christ and eternal life! Yes,
there is tribulation in the world, “...but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). ~P.
Mowrer
