These things I have spoken unto you,
that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
To realize how Jesus helps us overcome our trials and tribulations,
let’s look at some ways persons in the bible overcame
If we think about each time
they learned to overcome as they encountered trials,
they submitted to them realizing that the Father was ultimately in charge
Job did this well
Throughout the Bible, countless times,
many servants submitted to God’s will
and took the consequences
In each of those instances, God gave them sufficient strength
Sometimes God let them escape what their foes wanted to do to them,
such as when David defeated Golliath
or when the Israelites escaped Pharoah
Other times, He protected them through those situations
If we think of Daniel in the Lion’s den,
we know that Daniel spent a night in a den with hungry lions
and the Lord shut their mouths, they left him alone
Then, the king put the very men who had suggested
Daniel be put in the lions’ den
and they devoured them and all that went in the den with them
We also know that historically, years later,
the Romans put Christians in the center of the coliseum
and the lions tore them apart
We can’t take one situation and apply it to another
each moment has its purpose
and often God is using it to test our obedience
God usually does not do things the same as a rule,
each situation is different
There may be similarities, but each situation
receives a different response from our Lord
He only parted the sea once Exodus 14
Only once did a staff sprout and grow almonds Numbers 17:8
He spoke from a donkey once Numbers 22:28
He directed and caused a wall to fall once Joshua 6
He caused a great fish to swallow a man once Jonah 1:17
While there are similarities we can find:
He protected His people
He cared for His people
He provided for His people
He treasured His faithful servants and prophets
He rarely did the same thing
That takes the control from humans
and a good amount of faith and trust when He does things differently
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever Hebrews 13:8
The same God that opened the earth that swallowed people alive
is the same God who overthrew the tables of money changers
There were many times that the Pharisees sought to capture Jesus
and that was not allowed until it was His time
Look, He cannot save Himself, they mocked,
let him come down from the cross if He is the Son of God
He saved others; himself he cannot save.
If he be the King of Israel,
let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Matthew 27:42
Each time God spared someone in the Bible at one time
did not mean He would do the same at a later time
That is because looking to those events would be idolizing them
instead of looking to Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
So, overcoming the world is not about the circumstances,
but about being a willing vessel,
realizing that you are fit for the master’s use,
taking the good with the bad as they say,
knowing that He works all things together for our good,
being used for His glory, and in essence,
surrendering your expectations to God
and trusting Him that He will bring about
His perfect will in each situation
so that He may perform His purpose,
knowing that His purpose is being fulfilled by your complete obedience
Scriptural References:
And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day;
give me a man, that we may fight together.
1 Samuel 17:10
And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying,
What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine,
and taketh away the reproach from Israel?
for who is this uncircumcised Philistine,
that he should defy the armies of the living God?
1 Samuel 17:26
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me?
speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea,
and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground
through the midst of the sea.
And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians,
and they shall follow them:
and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host,
upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord,
when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh,
upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exodus 14:14-18
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28