PROBLEMS – “I eat them for breakfast!  Grrrr!”   Or  they say, “Problems just exist in your mind.”

Self-help folks give us lots of advice about how to overcome the difficulties we are sure to encounter in our lives.  “Tough times never last, tough people do.”  You have to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and think positive.  You can make it if you keep on trying.  If they don't kill you problems will only make you stronger.

Or, eastern religionists tell us that in their reality, problems are only an “illusion.”  We can meditate them away.  If we can just find our “center” we can overcome our wrong perceptions and escape the crushing tyranny of evil.  The world is essentially good.  We need to focus our energy on finding it.

Jesus offers a third way.  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33, NIV, arr, ubp]

Jesus didn't pull any punches.  He told us the truth.  Problems are not a dream.  They are real.  Difficulties will happen.  It is a fact of life.  We will have trouble in this world.

But He didn't leave us there to battle by ourselves.  To rely on willpower or mind control.  Instead He told us that the battle to overcome trouble is not ours to fight alone.  He has already overcome the world.

What does that mean?  When Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the grave, the power of evil was broken.  Satan no longer gets the final say.  God's love has confronted and “faced down” evil.  So we don't have to be afraid anymore.  Nor do we have to live in denial of the reality of evil.

We can experience Divine peace – not as the world gives, but the Holy Spirit's harmony that is promised to those who give their hearts, minds, souls and bodies to God.  In the face of problems we can turn to Jesus for help and comfort.

It's like dealing with a big and tough school-yard bully who is demanding our lunch money.  We feel afraid until we glance over our shoulder and see our big brother walking over and he's bigger and tougher than the bully.  He can “hand the bully his lunch”!  Suddenly, even though we aren't any bigger or tougher we have the confidence that comes from the fact of who is standing on our side.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”  [1 John 4:4, NIV, arr, ubp]

We know two things.  There will be trouble.  But we can have confidence that Jesus will give us whatever we need to overcome trouble because He has already defeated the ultimate power of Satan.  He will stand with us.

Do you believe that?  Then start living like that.  Take heart!  Don't cower.  Face your problems head-on and watch how God gives you the will, the means and the method for overcoming them.  Life can be an experience of faith, not fear.  And problems can be replaced by peace with Jesus at your side.

• What problems are you facing right now that are creating fear and dis-harmony in your life? 
• Where do you have to stop fighting your own battles and turn them over to Jesus? 
• What is one practical step you can take to turn them over to Jesus to fight for you?