“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)

“You will have trouble.” Not, “you may have trouble,” or “you’ll have trouble if you do this and that.” We will have trouble. Can I get an “Amen”? 

I’ve had more trouble than many and less trouble than others. Some of the trouble was out of my control. With my remarkable parents, who struggled with mental illness and addiction, trouble was bound to happen. Having a child with Down syndrome brought trouble in the form of health challenges. But my troubles are nothing compared to those of my Jesus. 

Jesus was preparing to face trouble the likes of which the disciples never imagined when He spoke these words in John 16. He’d not yet faced his trial or suffered the mocking, beating, and degradation at the hands of the Jews and the Romans. He hadn’t been abandoned by most of his followers or betrayed by His disciples, who professed to love Him. He hadn’t experienced the undeserved pain, anguish, and death on the cross. 

Despite the cruelty and injustice that awaited Jesus, the perfect, sinless Son of God tells the disciples to have peace. He warns of guaranteed trouble in this fallen world, but the good news is that He has overcome the world. Not that He will, but He has. Past tense. 

No matter what worldly trouble I’m currently in or I’m about to face, I can have peace. I have Jesus’s promise—the promise I will face troubles, and the better promise that because of Him, I have already overcome them.