LOOKING FOR CONFIDENCE TO OVERCOME TURMOIL IN YOUR LIFE?

SCRIPTURE:
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: 
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” 
(John 16:33)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever been in a situation and wondered, 
“What would (fill in the blank) do if he or she were facing what I am?”
It may be a good friend or someone whom you respect a lot.
At any rate, if you are unsure of what to do, you would like to know 
how someone you have a lot of confidence in, would handle it.

Jesus is the One every believer should have complete confidence in.
If He is not, then why would we be following Him?
When we want to be cheered up, He is the one we look to.
When we want to overcome a problem, He has shown us that it is possible.

We should not expect the easy way; 
if we do we are destined for disappointment. 
Any person who knows the Bible knows that the Christian life 
is similar to an athletic contest or to warfare, and neither one is easy. 
When Jesus warned His followers to count carefully the cost, 
it doesn’t sound like something that will be easy. 
But many of the good things do not come without cost.

The Christian life is the most satisfying, 
but only when we actually go all out and all the way - when we are “all in”.
The Christian who tries to compromise is the one who finds life miserable.
He has many problems without the fellowship that comes through surrender.
 
For every trial and test, Christ supplies an abundance of grace 
with which to bear it, and in our weakness we are made strong.
We gain confidence, 
because we know that He is there to help us through any situation.

ACTION:
Are you “all in” with the Lord, or do you have a partial commitment?
You may ask, “How can I know?”
The answer is, “You really do know, don't you?”
You know the areas where you have chosen to be disobedient.
Disobedience is not just doing things that are wrong, but it also includes 
not doing what God commands and expects of those who are “all in”.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I know that whenever I face tribulations of any kind, I 
can find comfort in knowing Your Son, Jesus also faced and overcame them. 
It is easy to become discouraged and defeated, but through the confidence 
that I am given, I can be encouraged and find joy in any circumstance. Teach 
me to be obedient to You in all ways so I can develop a closer relationship 
with You. Just as Jesus overcame the world, I want to be able to overcome 
sin and selfishness so I can confidently point others to Jesus.”