Luke 18:34

I love verses like this as they add a bit of humanness and feet of clay to the otherwise elevated saints which walked the pages of Scripture. I suppose it makes me a little more hopeful for myself! Jesus had just relayed to His disciples exactly what was getting ready to happen to Him yet it did not fit into their realm of comprehension, their expectations of kingdom glory, as their thoughts were still focused upon Jesus ushering in God’s Kingdom immediately.

“They were so intent on those prophesies that spoke of his glory that they overlooked those who spoke of his sufferings. Therefore it is that people run into mistakes, because they read their Bibles partially, and are as partial in the Prophets as they are in the Law. Thus now we are too apt, in reading the prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled, to have expectations raised of the glorious state of the church in the latter days. But we overlook its wilderness sackcloth state, and are willing to fancy that is over.” Matthew Henry

No one likes hard news. Unfortunately, just because we do not like receiving it does not mean that it is not an occurrence or that it will simply go away by not thinking about it or noticing it. As my friend Donna Evans says: “It is what it is!” One of the promises Jesus gives us in Scripture, yet seldom reflected upon by our modern day churches, is the certainty of troubles in our walk through this life – this should not take any of us by surprise:

7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward. Job 5:7 (NIV)

33 "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)

Those who belong to Christ Jesus are promised grace sufficient to meet each need and an inner peace during circumstances that are anything but peaceful – but we are certainly not promised a life that is free of tribulation. We live in a fallen world and pain and heartache are no strangers to those who reside here. Jesus writes these words not to frighten us but to prepare us. He has won the victory, He has overcome the world system therefore we are to be courageous and take heart. Because He won, in union with Him, we too can be victorious.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

Jesus is plainly endeavoring to tell His closest companions what is about to take place, out of love for them, so that they may be prepared and perhaps not be taken by surprise. Frankly, they were left clueless! I can so relate! There is another great verse found in Acts after Jesus’ Words had taken place and the Holy Spirit’s power had come upon these saints of old:

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NIV)

These clueless band of ragamuffins became a force that flesh could not reckon with. They turned the world upside down with the indwelling achieving power of the Holy Spirit. Cowards turned courageous and fearless strengthened by His powerful might, having great endurance and patience and joy. Incredible. As believers, we should never fear trouble because in our weakness Christ’s grace and power rests on us and as Paul concludes:

10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:10 (NIV)

"The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God cannot sustain you!" Anonymous

“Fretful spirits sit down and trouble themselves about the future. ‘Alas!’ say they, ‘we go from affliction to affliction.’ Very true, O thou of little faith, but then thou goest from strength to strength also. Thou shalt never find a bundle of affliction which has not bound up in the midst of it sufficient grace. God will give the strength of ripe manhood with the burden allotted to full-grown shoulders.” C.H. Spurgeon

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)