Persevere with hope

When I was younger I remember thinking that life would get easier as I got older. I was optimistic. I have since become more of a realist. Don’t get me wrong. I’m still optimistic. But not about this life on earth. About that I’m a realist. I store up my optimism for the life to follow. Life is more manageable if I’m realistic about it. Jesus himself told us that in this world we would have trouble. (John 16:33) He also reminded us that he has overcome the world. The troubles of this world are just going to happen. We will have health problems. People we love will die or leave us. Our children will rebel. Our governments will fail us. We will suffer for our faith. Life is a trial. If we navigate through life with our eyes open to the fact that troubles will come then we will be better prepared to persevere through them. How do we prepare? Study God’s word. Fellowship with other believers. Prayer. James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him!!
The trial and test that James speaks of here is this life here on earth. We have all these troubles including our own sin that we struggle against. But we have a Savior that has already overcome it all. He is preparing a place for us right now that will blow our minds! We can have confidence that these troubled times will come to an end. We must persevere in our faith in Christ through this life with the hope of the life to come through the resurrection of Jesus. This is where we can be optimistic!! The glory of the life to come will soon make the troubles of this life fade away. Thank you Jesus for going before us in your death and resurrection and in your trials and pain giving us hope for a very bright future!
Persevere my friends!