In John 16:33 Jesus said, "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." I especially relate to the phrase, "in this world you will have trouble." There is all kinds of sorrow, sadness, grief and heartache that go along with living in this world. I am heartened to know that Jesus was a "man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering" (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus knows what it's like to grieve. He knows what a heartache feels like. He is well acquainted with suffering. We can turn to him in our hour of suffering and He can relate. Jesus spoke these words in the upper room. There was an atmosphere of incredible tension, trauma, and fear. A sense of foreboding filled that room like a malevolent fog. Fear flickered like ominous shadows against the wall. The devil himself entered the room and took possession of Judas. The drama of all the ages was about to be unleashed like a nuclear device in that very room. It was the final moments of the Messiah’s ministry, when He washed the disciples’ feet, instituted His Last Supper, dipped his bread in the bowl with Judas, and loved His disciples to the very end. Even though Jesus spoke these words in an atmosphere of incredible tension, His message was one of supernatural peace and tranquility. He said, "In Me you may have peace." Isn't that great? Even though we're surrounded by pressure and suffering; In Christ we can have peace. Amy Carmichael, in one of her prescient observations from Scripture, pointed out that Jesus did not say, “These things I have spoken to you, that in your circumstances you might have peace.” He did not say, “These things I have spoken to you that in the love of others you might have peace.” He said: “In Me!” Our peace comes from being in union with Christ. This world offers trouble but Jesus has overcome the world. And if Jesus Christ can overcome the world, He can come over your life and overcome your anxieties and make all things work together for good in your experiences. The old hymn states it well: Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest. Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round? On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found. Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they. Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jesus we know, and He is on the throne. Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers. (Edward H. Bickersteth, Jr., 1875) Pastor Tim