Morning Meditation – The Struggle of the Soul
Morning Meditation with George Hutchings
The Struggle of the Soul
John 16:33 “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.” (NIV)
This is a verse that I hate! There is a gap between what is presented and what is experienced. Or, I hate it because I don’t understand it!
Let’s look at what I understand it to mean. “You will have peace in this world.” But, that’s not true! My lifelong friend Shirley just came down with cancer. There is no peace for her. I have a Kenyan friend who followed a cow with a red plastic bucket to catch the urine for something to drink. There was no peace there. The scripture seems to paint a picture of a world without strife or struggle. But it adjusts itself, “In this world you will have trouble.” So, the scripture is correct: there will be trouble.
There seems a gap between the Bible’s teaching and our experiences. Example: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:23-25, NKJV).
But my friend Flo in Kenya has often been without bread. Our girls at Juanita School for Girls have also often been without bread. So where is this peace the Lord is talking about? Looking at this world today, it’s full of trouble with disease, war, murder, hatred. Many lack peace because they are in a constant state of fear. So how do we in Him have peace when in life we’ll have calamity, trouble, and personal sins that bring guilt, shame, and distorted views of life?
The peace Jesus provides is He has overcome the world! He suffered and died to overcome the world so we might stand strong in evil days. He does not remove us from the world’s troubles, but in the midst of them “gives us a way of escape.”
“Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad that those trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world ordeal that has come on you to test you although something strange is happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12,).
Philippians also reminds us: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you” (4:8-9, NLT ).
So, in the middle of our sorrow, “Take heart, for I (Jesus) have overcome the world.”
Lord, teach us and our students at Juanita School for Girls to be overcomers of life’s trials by “thinking on what is true, honorable and right and pure and the God of peace shall be with us. Teach us to take heart, because you have overcome the world.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Sponsor a student for $100 per month. That feeds, educates, clothes, and disciples an otherwise poverty-stricken girl. Donate today at www.JuanitaSchoolKenya.org. Or, text your donation to 801801, use Venmo @HeronFund (JuanitaSchoolKenya), or mail a check to Juanita School at PO Box 425, Cottleville, MO 63338.
George Hutchings, Co-Founder and President
Juanita School for Girls, Jungle Kenya
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