“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).

In the last night before His crucifixion Jesus talked with His disciples about points that were essential. One subject that kept coming up was peace. It’s easy to understand that when we realize the trauma His followers were going to experience in the next few days. Jesus drew out a contrast many of us have experienced. In the world we will have trouble but in Jesus we will have peace.

When we feel that pressure of some crisis and are tempted to lose hope it is important to remember that the world isn’t the source of our peace. Our source of peace is Jesus. The New Testament use of “peace” is strongly connected to the Old Testament word for “peace”—“shalom.” The word implies far more than a lack of conflict; it is God’s provision of health, wholeness and blessing. While we may experience trouble in the world we are receiving prosperity and wholeness that comes from God because we are in Jesus.

It is because of that truth that Jesus can say to us today, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” The world has never changed. It will drive us crazy if we let it. But the world and its pressure don’t have the last word for any of us. Jesus has overcome the world and we can experience His “peace” no matter what is happening around us. So we do what Jesus suggested. We take heart!