Jesus has overcome the world

Have you ever felt like a gerbil spending its days running in circles but never getting anywhere? I have, and I don’t like that feeling. 

Stress and anxiety are at an all-time high. I walked into my favorite coffee shop and heard some news that distressed me: masks are mandated again across my state. Yikes! I immediately felt anger, frustration, and irritation. I’m afraid I cannot confess what I was thinking, but I controlled myself, just barely. I immediately thought about a few words of encouragement that I shared with my eldest grandson at a soccer tournament: “Luke, be a thermostat, not a thermometer.” Luke is a phenomenal person, scholar, and athlete. I’m so proud of him. He’s way more mature than I was at that age, but he lives in the real world. People can be mean, dirty, corrupt, and controlling. 

The Bible says, “‘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 16:33, NKJV) Jesus was surrounded by evil, corruption, and political power struggles—kind of like us. Oops, did I just say that?

friend, we often can’t do much about the circumstances surrounding us, but we can be thermostats. We need to find our places of rest and strength. Only then can we become the best versions of ourselves and influence others for God.

Jesus thinks you are pretty amazing. He says this about you: “‘You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.’” (Matthew 5:14, NKJV) 

So find your place of rest, then spread peace in the midst of the storm. You can do it because you are a miracle, and I love you more than Swiss cheese.