Scripture encouragement: John 16:33
“It’s All God’s River”
Cascading, pounding, rushing waters,
overflowing bounds,
uncontained, unexpected,
unwelcome, flooding, drowned.
Parched and thirsty, shrunk, and stagnant
flowing not at all,
abandoned, lonely, lost and stranded,
“Why, Lord, why?” we call.
His river is found in flood, in drought,
when life is not serene.
We find him whenever we reach out
and embrace His Son, our King.
It’s God’s river that carries us always,
through this life and onward still,
connected to His endless love,
through Christ, it is His will.
©Poem by Robin Lybeck
“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.”
John 16:33
God’s encouragement for us…
It is the complete honesty of this promise Jesus made to his disciples that encourages me. Jesus does not promise us a problem-free life. So when trials come along, I know that I am not being punished for sin—things I’ve said or done or left unsaid, undone. The source of the trial could be rooted in the world. It could be rooted in temptation from the evil one to turn me away from God or cause me to doubt Him. Or, the source could be me if I am unrepentant over my sin or unwilling to accept God’s authority over me. Whatever the source, the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to indwell me and guide me will make God’s purpose known to me. It will then lead me to confess and repent if I have sinned against Him and to surrender if the sin is self-reliance.
God teaches us and disciplines us through trials, deepening our relationship with Him. So, when trials come along, I can bring this verse to mind and take heart that Jesus has overcome the world already! I can turn to Him, ask to be guided by Him and then follow as He leads, trusting Him. He will be with me for as long as the trial endures until the peace He promises dawns again.
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To learn more about my journey with God, visit these pages: Robin’s Journey for an overview | my first season: Baptized and Taught | my second season: Loss & Lost | my third season: Pursued & Awakened | my fourth season: Welcomed & Transforming | my fifth season: Proclaiming
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Image: photo taken by Robin of the Colorado River near Kremmling, Colorado.
