Take heart!

I have told you these things, so that in me you may peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.~John 16:33

 Hallelujah! Father I thank You for leading me to your Word and your truth. Let me hold on to it and meditate on it day and night. 

 Don't let anyone tell you that the Lord does not hear your cries. He hears every whisper, moan, groan and even those words unspoken that run through our hearts. My heart has been heavy for the last couple of days. Issues with my job, consequences of racism, health issues, battles with depression, friends with crisis, and the plights of this world take a toll. Trouble has been at my doorstep. Every time I sweep it off more comes back. It's piling up and I want it gone. So what do you do when you get weary and feel depleted of strength? What do you do with the troubles of this world? 

 You take heart! You encourage yourself with the promises of God. You remind yourself that this world and all of its issues are fading. They are temporary. You take heart and remember that you don't have to fight the battle, you just have to show up! Jesus said He has overcome the world! Not, He will overcome, but He has overcome. It is already done! So my job, my mind, the ignorance of people who choose to hate me because of my gender or the color of my skin is done. Those battles have been won by God on my behalf and your behalf. I have to take heart. My God has given me eternal encouragement and a good hope! ( 2 Thessalonians 2:16) A hope that endures and overcomes every weapon the enemy throws at me. 

 So go ahead. Keep throwing the kitchen sink at me because you devil have nothing left. My Lord is victorious! I am His daughter and so I am victorious. I stand! I stand on the battlefield knowing you are already defeated. For greater is He that is within me than you who are in this world.( 1 John 4:4). You may try to harm my body, but not my soul. 

My brothers and my sisters take heart and "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word".~2 Thessalonians 2:16-17