Take Heart

SCRIPTURE:  In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 ESV

THOUGHT: But take heart. Was there ever a more needed and game-changing invitation? Other translations say, “have courage,” “be courageous,” or “be encouraged.” Several say, “be of good cheer,” and one says, “never lose heart.” Regardless of which translation you read John 16:33 in, the invitation is the same, and the why that follows is the key, really, to everything: I have overcome the world.

It was spoken with such confidence by a man just hours away from betrayal and arrest. In past tense. Although he still had to endure the cross, and he still had to go through death’s portal, somehow get the keys to death and hell (Rev. 1:18), and come back triumphant to the resurrection. He wanted those who would see the unfolding of the next few days to take heart. To remember his confident words of hope and joy and promise as the chips were going down.

In the same way, we need to take heart, don’t we? We see the tribulation Jesus warned the disciples about swirling around us. “In this world,” he said, “you will have tribulation.”

There is a great shaking going on, but we need to take heart. As the writer of Hebrews says, God will shake the earth of the “things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Heb. 12:27-28 ESV).” And then the writer calls for worship and awe and reverence. Another thing we can be about as we take heart.

PRAYER: Oh God, Jesus told his disciples “take heart” before their world was torn apart. He spoke these simple, powerful five words before the battle raged fully against him: “I have overcome the world.” And so he had! We are grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Help us take heart too, and keep right on worshiping you.