” Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” John 16:31-33
I grab onto that last phrase with as much strength as I can muster. My body absorbs the overwhelming noise of the world right now. I seek to center myself; to find solitude and refuge in its midst. Sometimes, I long to escape. I wish, “Couldn’t this side of Heaven be Heaven?”
But life with Jesus begins here. The Kingdom unfolds here. And with that comes the aches and pains of restoration. It resembles a body that isn’t yet whole wrestling with the hope held out for what could be attained.
Jesus didn’t bait and switch. He tells it like it is. “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.” But the wrestling isn’t exclusively contained to an “us” and “them” narrative. Sin has a way of creeping into all of humanity. Even those who profess to follow him. When not acknowledged, it leads to decisions that benefit self in the short term rather than wholeness to self and your neighbor in the long term. Sometimes, the noise of self righteousness hurts my ears the most. From others as well as myself.
I am blessed when I glimpse into the window of a restored world with all it’s splendor: celebrations, new birth, beauty, unity in the hard places, empathy, complete healing, and the putting on love for another regardless of the cost to self.
In the meantime, I hold on to the hope Jesus professes: “But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” I need the reminder that I’m not left to navigate through this place of in-between by myself.
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It isn’t easy living in this world. And, you’re right. Life begins with Jesus here. Thank you for reminding me of this.
So much THIS: “ I am blessed when I glimpse into the window of a restored world with all it’s splendor: celebrations, new birth, beauty, unity in the hard places, empathy, complete healing, and the putting on love for another regardless of the cost to self.”
Beautifully written Stephanie! Boy, isn’t this in-between a challenge sometimes? I find myself wanting to be like an ostrich with my head in the sand to shut out all the challenges more and more! What a great reminder that we’re not alone and instead of getting hiding I can hold on to hope in Him!