In Moments Like These

Things look bad. COVID is not abating. Political unrest is not easing. Sin is not decreasing. We don't live in a world more friendly toward Christ or His people. And it's not a surprise ... or, at least, shouldn't be. As a forerunner to Robocop ("There will be ... trouble."), Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation." (John 16:33) And certainly not just Jesus (as if "just Jesus" was a reasonable phrase) (e.g., Psa 119:71; Rom 8:18; Php 1:29; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Peter 3:14; James 1:12). Peter said, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12) It only makes sense from the pages of the Bible; expect trouble.

Many Christians cringe at this. They are disappointed when friends turn against them and deeply discouraged when things go bad and even angry with God when "bad things happen to good people." I would suggest that in moments like these we can actually shine. It is in our harshest circumstances that we can stand best and glorify God the loudest.

Paul experienced much hardship in his life. In fact, it ended up being fatal. But he said, "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:17-18) He understsood the afflictions he endured to be "light" and "momentary," "transient." He understood that they were necesssary to prepare for us "an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" and far outweighed any temporal difficulty. James believed trouble to be necessary, a tool of God that produces perseverance that produces perfection, worthy of "all joy" (James 1:2-4). Peter told us to "rejoice and be glad" as we share Christ's suffering "when His glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:13)

Many Christians I know today are scared. Things look bad. Things look bleak. Paul, on the other hand, said, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" because God says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12:9) In that first passage I quoted above from Jesus, I left out most of the verse.

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

We aren't warned about troubles and tribulations so we can be either scared or militant. We are told about it because it's no problem. We are informed on the matter so that in Christ "you may have peace." We can "take heart" because we know something others don't: Christ has overcome. That includes sickness and calamities and the politics and all. In moments like these our confidence in our Savior is shining proof that we have an actual Savior.