May 3

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world! — John 16:33 BSB

Hasn't our path been one of tribulation, more or less, since the Lord first turned our feet to the narrow way? But have we ever found peace in Jesus? Do we still desire peace there? Do we look for peace, expecting to enjoy it from any other source? Could we even imagine, for a single moment, finding peace in ourselves, the world, or in sin? Is our heart so fixed upon Jesus, our eyes so focused on Him, and the desires of our soul so hungry for the manifestation of His mercy and love, that we are certain there is no peace worth having except what is found in Him? Our seasons of peace may not have been long—they may have been very brief—but they were sweet while they lasted, enough to show us what true peace is and make us long for more.

Yet the Lord sums it all up with the solemn and blessed declaration that though our path is one of tribulation in the world, He has overcome it. Sin will not be our master, the world will not defeat us, and the things of time and sense will not conquer us. May He give us the sweet assurance that He will fight our battles and make us more than conquerors.