We’ve got problems. All of us have problems. Problems that can make us worry, steal our joy, occupy our thoughts, and affect our mood. I don’t know what you’re going through but chances are if you don’t have any problems, look out, they’re coming. Sounds pretty pessimistic right? Here’s the thing, it may sound pessimistic but it’s also true.
We see it throughout the Bible. Here’s one example. In John 16, Jesus tells his disciples, “the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” Jesus is telling his followers, his closest companions, people who believe in him, who have left everything to follow him, that they will be “killed.” Those are his words, not mine. They will be killed! If that’s not a problem, I don’t know what is. But this isn’t the only place we see Jesus warn his disciples about problems they will face. Later in that same chapter of John, Jesus says, “you will weep and lament”, “you will be scattered”, and if that’s not clear enough he says, “in this world you will have tribulation.” Jesus does not hide the hard reality of this life from our eyes. No, he opens them. He tells us clearly that this world will be filled with problems.
There are many more places in Scripture that acknowledge the problems Christian’s will face.
Here are a few: James 1:2 “when you meet trials of various kinds […]”
Matthew 10:22 – “You will be hated by all because of My name […’”
Acts 14:22 – “Through many tribulations you must enter the kingdom of God.”
2 Timothy 3:12 – “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”
Our Savior Jesus Christ acknowledged the problems that we would have in this life. It is not wrong for us to do the same. If you are sick, acknowledge it. If you are down, acknowledge it. If you’ve got an anger problem, acknowledge it. If you have marital problems, acknowledge it. If you have a deadline that needs to be met that’s stressing you out, acknowledge it. Don’t be surprised that we face a host of problems in this world. Some caused by our own sinful desires and others outside of ourselves.
If that was the only thing we were told in the Scriptures then guess what I would do? I would be depressed, beaten, defeated, hopeless, and sad. That would be my state. If the only thing the Bible revealed about the life of a Christian was that it was going to be problematic and filled with sickness, death, hate, tribulation, and persecution then we’d all have nothing to be excited about. But that is not where the story ends. In fact Jesus says something very profound to his disciples in John 16. He does say, “In this world you will have tribulation.” but he doesn’t stop there. Jesus adds, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
That’s it. Jesus has overcome the world and all the junk that comes with it. Does it mean a problem free life? According to John 16 the expectation is actually the opposite, we will have problems, but we face them knowing that Christ has overcome them. Jesus says, “you will be sorrowful” but follows that up with “your sorrow will turn into joy.” And guess what? That joy will never be taken away from you. As Christians, we ought to have the best attitude when facing trials. James 1 says it this way, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of many kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
So Christian, if you are suffering, if you have problems, count it joy because Christ has overcome the world. We are sinful people. We are not owed perfect lives, nor do we deserve them. We aren’t owed joy. We aren’t owed Jesus. But as Christians, whom Christ died for, that’s exactly what He gives us. We still have problems, but as James says, those problems are used by God to make us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). That’s the Word of God. Isn’t that amazing?
Beloved, as children of God, not only do we know that He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28) and his glory, but we can also hope in the promise that Jesus will one day return and make all things new – we his people, and this broken world. Then will we get to experience the truth of what Paul said in Romans 8:18, “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” If you have problems, endure, persevere. Christ will soon return and those problems will fade in light of the glory of the Son of God.