Jesus Overcame to Help You Overcome: Finding Peace in Times of War

It was 4 a.m. Saturday, February 28th. I opened my phone and read the headlines which said we were at war with Iran. Even though I felt God had been preparing my heart for months of what was to come, knowing I don't like surprises, the news still sent shockwaves through my body. The United States was actually at war with the Middle East. My heart sank.

So often, my anxiety comes from working to fix people and situations around me that are out of my control. I want to question everything and reason it out; especially when life does not make sense. I get frustrated when I do not have all the answers. I have always struggled with trusting others and sometimes trusting God is no exception.

In times like these, I always seem to think of Jesus' closest friends - His disciples.

Jesus warned His disciples of future events in Matthew 24:6-8 when He said, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pangs."

When I read verses like those from Matthew 24, I believe God's Word to be true. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples over 2,000 years ago and look at where we are today. His Word still applies to this lost and dying world.

The world may be wasting away, but through Jesus there is hope.

In John 16, Jesus told His disciples He would soon leave them as He headed to the cross. Not only did they discover that their teacher and mentor would soon part ways with them, but they themselves would be scattered all throughout the region of Judea to spread the gospel. Many would die a martyr's death all for the cause of Christ.

And yet what did Jesus say to reassure them of the difficult days ahead? "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, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

My friend, Jesus overcame when He died on the cross for your sins so you could overcome (John 3:16-17). Although He never says this world will be easy to live in, He does promise to never leave or forsake us many times throughout the Bible (Deut. 31:6). It is only through Him that we have life after we pass away.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I beg of you to accept His gift of salvation. When we "confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, then you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9).

Only when we realize we are a sinner in need of a Savior and accept Jesus, then His Spirit will dwell inside us and bring life after death to our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11). We have hope that this life is not the end. It is the beginning of something so much greater and more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

Jesus overcame so you could overcome. With His Spirit, you will never fight another battle alone.

If you have any questions about Jesus Christ or what I have written today, please email me at whitneysparks4110@gmail.com.

Join my LIVE online Ladies Bible Study group each Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. CST as we learn how God can break our chains of brokenness and sculpt our lives into something beautiful.

You can find my latest devotional book, Beauty Rises Again: From Brokenness to New Beginnings on Amazon or buying clicking here.