Take Heart!

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Sorrow will be turned to joy was the theme of our last devotional time. Today we read from John 16:25-33.

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Sometimes, when I read the bible, I wish I didn’t know what was coming. I wish that I could be like the disciples and understand while not fully understanding. The disciples understood that Jesus was going away, that he was going back to his Father. Yet… I don’t think they really understood it.

I read Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. My heart is sad for Jesus. I KNOW what he means. The soldiers will come, they will arrest Jesus and the disciples will scatter. Except for Peter, but he didn’t stand by Jesus’ side, rather he followed at a distance and then denied him the first chance he got. His closest people will scatter in his hour of need and yet… He won’t be alone. He won’t be. GOD the Father will still be there. I read those words, and though part of me is still sad that Jesus had to deal with that desertion, my heart leaps with joy for his not being alone. I KNOW that feeling. 🙂 That being without close family or friends around, and then having that stillness inside that reminds me that I am never ever alone. God won’t let me be. He’s always there.

AND in that always being there… We can take heart. I can take heart. You can take heart. We aren’t alone ever. He’s got our back. V. 27 reminds us of God’s love for us. It’s a sure and steady thing.

So even if Jesus isn’t here with us physically. The love he holds for us remains steady. The love the Father holds for us remains steady and we are not left alone. ERGO.. take heart! Be at peace. He has overcome this world that will give us trials and tribulations. Things will get tough. BUT.. remember… Take heart! Be at peace. The world have been overcome. God has our back all the time

Jesus could do it in his hour of need. Beaten, scourged, nailed to the cross, hole piercing his side. He knew that God was with him, that he wasn’t alone. Don’t you think he took heart?

When we are maligned, mocked, persecuted, hurt, scorned, beaten and what not. We too can remember, God loves us, God is with us always, and we can take heart.