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

We are promised Tribulation in this world by these words of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are offered peace in Him by listening to the Word that He has spoken unto us. And though we are told to expect tribulation we may meet that chaos in the joy knowing that Jesus Has already defeated those enemies of Death, Sin and Hades.

For the mature Christian seeking practical answer to the question of what we should expect as we grow in faith, this is the penultimate display and demonstration of growth in the mustard which becomes a tool set of practicable and powerful gifts by we may resist the enemy.

Facing this guaranteed tribulation with the Joy prescribed by Christ in the knowledge that we have available peace in Him allows the unlimited patience of the Holy Spirit to do its perfect work leaving us un wanton, secure in God’s Provision, protection and hope. What that means to a mature Christian is we may stand, even in the face of crisis or evil and know that God will provide whatever we need at the precise required timing.

This stance in understanding provokes a conscious perspective of this world which is; incapable of healing itself, winding down toward a conclusion written by God and eviscerates the believers from the cadre crying, “Peace, Peace, Peace”. We know that our peace is only found in Christ and stop looking for it in the world leaving us a new, refreshed and content understanding of the times in which we reside.

The Holy Spirit opens this verse with another promise given by the Word of Jesus spoken that we may not be offended at what the world will do to us when the times arrives. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

You see Christ even anticipates that some will believe that they were supposed to be delivered from persecution and take offense. We may live a near perfect life and still be accounted along Christ and suffer for the sake of His Gospel and their contempt/mockery of the King. This is probably the toughest truth for most to accept that many will be martyred, jailed or persecuted for the sake of His Name. Therefore it behooves each member of the Body to fully reflect upon the Word given unto us that we may know tribulation is coming or is here, Peace is found in Him alone and we ought not be offended by our trials and sufferings as Jesus told us they are on the way.

The most frequent concept of preparation is logistics. However, the Christian need prepare multiple dimensions of which the most important perhaps is the Spiritual level of preparedness. Residing in His Word, Prayer, Communion, Meditation, Worship and Fellowship must be regarded as the vital arenas for Spiritual preparation. Though we must be mindful that Faith Without Works is dead Faith, so we must prepare and then Walk to find the practical application of our intention. Times are coming that may surpass our expectation for chaos. Therefore please take some time to listen to the Word Jesus Speaks to us in John that we have that spiritual awareness commensurate with what Christ Prophesied would come about. May you be richly blessed in Peace by Jesus Christ the King.