Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."—John 16:31-33
And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. It hit me as I read these words of Jesus this morning that He was not only reminding His disciples of the truth, but perhaps in His humanity, He was also reminding Himself. If Jesus needed the reminder that He was never alone, how much more do I? How much more do I need to follow Jesus’ example and speak this truth and others to my own heart. In Christ, I am never alone. The God of the universe makes His home with me.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Never in my lifetime have the lies of this world been louder. Never in my lifetime has the resulting effects between setting my mind on things above or on the things below been so stark. Never in my lifetime has it been more obvious to me that true peace will only be found in Him. And thankfully, by God’s grace, never have I sought after it Him more because never have I needed Him more.
Aside from whatever personal trials I might be facing, the deceit in the world at large makes the ground under me seem very unstable and exacerbates every trial I face. Focusing there for any length of time makes my “walk” wobbly. My balance is thrown and spiritually I begin to sink. These words from Psalm 94 have proved helpful…
If I say, "My foot slips,"
Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.—Psalm 94:18-19
My consolation, like the Psalmist, is found in the Lord my God. When my foot slips…when sin, fear and despair begin to overwhelm my heart…when I feel thrown off balance and ready to fall, God’s mercy…His “loyal love” or His “unfailing love,” is there. His right hand upholds me and He increasingly becomes my strong habitation to which I continually resort.
The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms;
He will thrust out the enemy from before you,
And will say, 'Destroy!'—Deuteronomy 33:27
Beloved…when we acknowledge our own weakness and inability to stand by our own strength, then we can rest in His divine supports and His divine comforts. Today, surrender to Him and allow His consolation to quiet your own anxious heart and give you joy. He is your firm foundation…He sets your feet upon a rock and He establishes your steps. Matthew Henry says this about verse Psalm 94:19:
The worldʾs comforts give but little delight to the soul when it is hurried with melancholy thoughts; they are songs to a heavy heart. But Godʾs comforts will reach the soul, and not the fancy only, and will bring with them that peace and that pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give and which the frowns of the world cannot take away.
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.—John 14:1-3
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.—John 15:9-11
