LIFE VERSE: John 16:33 (1997-2016)

Many years ago, I started a tradition that I didn’t realize was going to become so important for me. At the time, I didn’t even recognize what it was, rather I was clinging to a Bible verse I had learned in Bible Drill in the desperate attempt to find hope in what felt like a hopeless time. That one choice led me to see the Lord speaking directly into “seasons” of my life with His truth which I, a lover of words, adored. This tradition became a part of my spiritual growth and journey when I started doing a word of the year and choosing a verse to go along with each word. This practice has truly become one of the most blessing and joyful things in my walk. Not just recognizing a verse but seeing all the ways the Lord will use it to speak truth over my heart during a season. It’s also been great for helping me memorize more scripture, which if I’m honest, I’ve not done a great job with since my Bible Drill days. 

So as I start this series, I’d like to share the context of the verse within my life and what this verse has taught me over the years. I find it’s a bit like a picture album where I can see the changes and growth by just looking at these verses lined up in order. So, with that out of the way, here’s the verse that started it all…

I began Bible Drill in the 3rd grade and competed for ten years. If you’ve never heard of this competition, just know it’s an activity that helps kids memorize scripture while becoming better acquainted with God’s word. I still have key Gospel truths in my head and heart because I learned them from my little pamphlet thirty years ago. I’m not sure when I learned John 16:33 but I know it was several years into “drilling” and it became crucial to my spiritual journey in junior high and high school.

It says, “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.” 

You may be wondering why such a verse became so important to a preteen/teenager when many wear Philippians 4:13 or John 3:16… both great but for me, my world was being rocked. It was the first time I was facing the unkindness and harshness our fallen world offers and that was rocking my little heart and my faith. Not that I didn’t believe God was true or real, but the hope of His word had always been easy to accept because my life was pretty easy to accept when that changed. I needed the Truth and the hope that came with it and that’s what John 16:33 provided. How you might wonder? Well, I’m glad you asked.

“I have told you these things…” 

The Lord doesn’t hide the harshness of life from us. Many think Christians walk around like Pollyanna with our heads in the clouds and no clue for the reality of real life. I’ve heard some say that if most Christians faced the brutality of this world they would walk away from the God they say they believe in. I disagree. From the moment sin entered our world God was honest with us about the outcome. Our world was fallen and that brought consequences. I know wonderful men and women of the faith that have faced trials I could not imagine on my worst day but their faith stood because they knew what I came to cling to during those yucky years… this isn’t where the sentence ends… nope, just a comma but no period. 

“...so that in me you may have peace…”

Isn’t it amazing that in the midst of the chaotic brokenness of our world, the Lord is right there reminding us that we can have peace? Notice that it says you may have peace. The word “may” shows the possibility of peace but doesn’t demand it. No, we can choose to not have peace and many have walked that pathway. In John 14:27 Christ reminds us that he gives peace but we have to accept it. God’s peace doesn’t make sense, nor is it emotion based but it is one that passes understanding as the old children’s song so rightly says. His peace is there for us if we will take it on because we are not facing any challenge alone. 

“...In this world you will have trouble…” 

Can I get an amen?!? Like, duh! But here’s the thing, we still act shocked when it happens. We still have supposed “pastors” running around claiming that if you are a good enough Christian you won’t have troubles. The best I can tell from Biblical history through to the present, the harder you are chasing after God the larger the target on your back. I don’t say that to dissuade you but rather to remind you to be vigilant to the true enemy and to take this to heart. If God’s word is true and I believe it is, then we need to pay attention… It doesn’t say “if you have trouble”. You. Will. Have. Trouble. But that’s not the end of the story. 

“...But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

Some translations say be of good cheer but I think taking heart sounds closer to the building up of one's confidence and courage within your spirit. “Cheer” sounds like, “Cheer up!” over something trivial but “take heart” has always reminded me of Aslan’s “Courage, dear heart!” more of a bolstering up in my opinion. 

And that’s exactly what it should do! We aren’t just told to have peace but we are told why we can even attempt to grasp a hold of God’s peace. We know the end of the story. Yes, the world is going to stink and yes, it’s going to hurt and even if you have the most idyllic life known to any man you will still exit this life with death. Life isn’t fair. Satan doesn’t play by the rules and people get hurt BUT we belong to the one who has overcome the world… even my corner of the world that feels insurmountable… yep, He’s overcome even that. 

And friends that is why that verse became the banner I held over my life for nearly two decades. It never occurred to me at the time that my understanding of God and the way my relationship grew with Him as I walked through that verse would just be a foundation for so many verses to come and for that it holds a special place in my heart.