Divinely Prepared to Live with Courageous Faith
By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading:
“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, NIV
Most of us don’t like to be caught off guard, hit with something we weren’t expecting. Those situations can feel disorienting if not overwhelming. Not long ago, a friend shared an experience with me that, in the moment, triggered all of her internal alarm systems, resulting in her landing in total freak-out mode. In short, she and her husband decided to attend a small group for those enduring chronic anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. She went to receive encouragement in her long and arduous healing journey from complex trauma, and her husband accompanied her to offer support.
She walked into the meeting room expecting something similar to a Bible study with sharing opportunities similar to what occurs with Alcoholics Anonymous. Mentally and emotionally unprepared for a deep discussion on trauma, she quickly found herself overwhelmed and embarrassed by her intense reaction. The following week, however, she responded much differently, largely because she now knew what to expect and had been able to talk through this with her therapist. This allowed her to bring tools, like her current knitting project, as a grounding tool when she sensed herself becoming overwhelmed.
The disciples Jesus spoke with in today’s verse would soon face numerous overwhelming and life-threatening circumstances that could’ve easily triggered panic, causing them to lash out physically or verbally, flee or withdraw from the danger, and therefore their calling, or become paralyzed by their fear. The Lord knew this. He grasped how difficult life would soon become for His first-century followers. That understanding, coupled with His incomprehensible love, motivated Him to prepare them for what lay ahead.
First, He told them that one of them would betray Him, Peter would deny Him, and all of them would abandon Him during His darkest hour. But recognize, He didn’t say this to shame them but instead to help them, post failure, to return to Him and receive His grace.
He also said that they’d experience persecution and even death for their faith. First, however, He spoke powerful promises to encourage and strengthen their trembling souls. Although He told them that He’d soon be leaving, and they couldn’t join, He also assured them that He wasn’t abandoning them. He was going to prepare a place for them and would eventually return for them, thereby declaring that their hardship wouldn’t get the final say. His love and grace would.
He also let them know that they wouldn’t have to face their upcoming difficulties, or any other aspect of life, alone. He’d send them God the Holy Spirit, to strengthen, guide, and teach them, and speak through them.
Then, in John 15:1-8, He spoke words that, when applied, have the capacity to bolster the most timid souls. In verses 4-5, He said,
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
That was their survival plan. Their freak-out escape route. When overpowered and overwhelmed, they weren’t to rely on themselves. They needed to turn and draw near to, remain vitally connected to, and spiritually alert to, His presence at work within them. He would give them everything they needed to live as the victorious conquerors He was calling them to be. They would overcome because He, their Savior, had already overcome.
Intersecting Life & Faith:
God still prepares His children for the hard things to come. Throughout Scripture, we read numerous warnings of the unavoidable difficulties ahead–sickness, wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, relational storms with people who act antagonistically to our faith. But the Lord also describes, in detail, how to stand strong even when the ground beneath us feels ready to give way.
As we “abide” or “remain” in Him through prayer, Bible reading, connecting with other Christ-followers, listening for His voice, and resting in His presence, He steadily and progressively replaces our fear with courage and peace, our confusion with clarity, and our heartache with joy.
Equally important, He speaks of His grace before our moment of moral failure so that we know we can return to it and rely upon it. Phrased differently, He reminds us that His grace wasn’t His backup plan. It has been His life-saving, soul-nurturing strategy since the beginning of time.
No matter what we encounter, we can trust that His grace is sufficient, for His strength is perfected, or reaches its full expression, in our weakness–when our weakness draws us closer to Him, that is.
Further Reading:
Matthew 26:41
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Proverbs 22:3
How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/vchal
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
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