“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

Jesus reminded us here in John that we will have trouble in this life. It’s an unavoidable thing — the world is messy, and so are we, so we end up having problems and issues of all kinds.

Most of the time, when I heard this or read it, I imagined small, benign problems like having a bad day or someone being mean or a particularly hard day at work. For some reason, these kinds of issues seemed like ones that would be unpleasant, but something I could stomach for a small time. They were “acceptable.”

It never occurred to me for some reason that big troubles would probably come knocking as well.

Sometimes, it’s more than someone just being mean for a day. Sometimes, it’s arguments and issues at home that make life so difficult. Sometimes, it’s trouble at work that makes your headache and shoulders droop just because you know just how bad it will be when you walk through the door. Sometimes, it’s medical problems that won’t go away or an horrendous accident or the loss of a loved one that rips your heart open every time you get up in the morning.

Sometimes, it’s tears leaking down you face at all hours of the day as you wonder aloud, “Why, God? Why me? Why this?”

Sometimes, we don’t really ever know why. There isn’t even a guarantee that the answer will ever be made known. I don’t know why these horrible, gut-wrenching things happen. I can’t explain why some people appear to have it made and others suffer uncontrollably. I don’t have the knowledge.

However, I can tell you that God Most High does know. He sees you, even though it might not feel like it. We are like Hagar, crying out in the wilderness to “the God Who Sees Me.”

I can tell you that when you call out on the Lord, he hears and sees you. He is with you, 100 percent.

The world is broken, and so are the people in it. Sometimes, bad things happen and there isn’t a nice, tidy way to wrap it up. Things can just be bad and we can admit they are bad — and that’s OK. Yet, we must remember, too, that Jesus foreknew these things would occur and left us a gift: his peace.

He gave us his peace to carry in our hearts, so that when tempests rise up around us and we appear to be sinking, we can cling to Jesus and lean on his provision for us.

It reminds me of a saying a former boss of mine used to say when a day was particularly difficult. She’d look around at the team and say, “Well, Mama said there’d be days like this.” However, this time it isn’t our dear mothers who warned us about the tribulation we’d face in life, but rather Jesus.

He sent us out, not unprepared, but knowing that things would be tough. But, just like a caring parent, he packed us up some sustenance for the way: his peace.

Friends, if you find yourself in a situation that is less than ideal and it’s breaking you down, I ask that you’d pray with me this week. Let us pray that the peace that passes all understanding would come into our lives, and that we would receive it. Let us pray that the obstacles in our way would be removed, but also, that while we endure whatever issues may come our way, that we can lean on God. Let us pray that we will be made strong, and remember that Christ has overcome the world.

Dear Lord, I ask that you bless these people and build up their strength in times of need. Though we may not know why a thing happens, let us walk through it with grace and utmost dependence on you. I ask that you would watch over them and see their hearts, reminding them of your love for them. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the ability to draw near to you in times of trouble.

Amen.