I love to read from the prophet Isaiah , especially this time of year. Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Jesus is the“Prince of Peace”! He promised us one thing while we walk out our earthly sojourn. He promised us that we would have tribulation, John 16:33 (ESV)
“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.”
The whole preceding verses speak of the coming of Holy Spirit. It was in the place of transition that Jesus is saying, “have peace, trust in Me”. The disciples didn’t understand it then but they would understand the purposes of God soon. The Greek word for tribulation is θλῖψις, thlipsis which means persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation. Properly, it means pressure (what constricts or rubs together), used of a narrow place that "hems someone in"; tribulation, especially internal pressure that causes someone to feel confined (restricted, "without options"), ("compression, tribulation") carries the challenge of coping with the internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there is "no way of escape" ("hemmed in").
Notice, that there is no way to avoid trouble because we live “in” the world. There always will be a clash between the kingdom of darkness vs the kingdom of light. We are children of the light (1 Thess 5:5). The king of darkness, Satan hates the children of light with a passion. His desire is to continually rob, kill and destroy, John 10:10a (ESV).
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…”
He comes to destroy our kives, relationships, finances, health, etc,etc. Jesus said the place of peace is in Him. Thus, we live in Him while we live in this world. It’s a peace that comes with a oneness in Him that religious traditions and mere principles of scripture can not produce. The next chapter of John 17 describes the oneness He desires with us. Religion says to trust in church or a theological perspective. Jesus says to place yourself in Him. It’s a relationship thing, not a religious thing. Paul says it this way in Galatians 5:25 (ESV)
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
How do you know that you’re living in Him? Answer, You have peace in the midst of tribulation and difficulty. Peter says to humble ourselves before the Lord, 1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever.”
As we worry about our life and needs, the enemy, the roaring lion, seeks to devour us with worry, depression and oppression. We try to figure it out on our own and become super frustrated.
Jesus says to humble ourselves before Him a place our anxious thoughts and anxiety at His feet. Why? Because He cares for you. He will provide a ram in the bush, He’ll shut the lions’ mouths, He’ll be with you in the fiery furnace.
The second part of John 10:10 is that He will give us” life abundant”.
We can discover tremendous peace amid tremendous trial. God has a purpose for everything happening in our lives, good or bad,
James, the half-brother of Jesus describes the reason for trials in his letter to the churches, James 1
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Trials are for testing of our faith. Their purpose is to bring us to maturity in Christ.
I was to have surgery a couple of years ago to repair an issue that had not been allowing toxins to be passed. The result was that the toxins became too much for my kidneys they shut down putting me in hospital for 12 days. While I was in “perop”, my nurse told me that the surgeon I had was the best in this type of surgery. That gave me great peace.
Cheryl had to have a triple-bypass a few years ago. We were told that her heart surgeon was the best. That gave us both peace in face of the unknown.
When you’re going into surgery, you want the best. You don’t want someone who was last in their class or failed their medical exam (test). We serve the One who is above everything and everyone. There is no one greater than our God. He is the best in all things so to speak.
Our destiny is to rule and reign with Him. We are in training for reigning. We must be strong in the Lord in the face of trials. We cannot escape them. Take the encouragement from one of the wisest men who ever lived. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths”
Therefore, put yourself in Him and trust in Him.