“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

It’s rare, but once in a while I’ll meet a patient who has lived sheltered from hardship and suddenly finding themselves dealing with illness and suffering is confusing to them. Why me? They ask. Oftentimes they blame God. One trauma patient even asked me, Why did God turn his back on me after a lifetime of doing everything right? (If the patient’s life wasn’t in the balance I would have explored how he defined ‘doing everything right.’)

An unhealthy processing of difficulties, like blaming others, leaves us with weak characters unable to deal with the reality of our world. A child kept from troubles becomes an adult who can’t deal with troubles. We live in a fallen world with sinful people and everything about that equals trouble. Every trouble successfully engaged and endured becomes a means of strengthening our resolve moving forward.

When we believe in the work of Jesus Christ we can take heart in any trial knowing that this is merely a temporary existence until the works of darkness are finally destroyed and the earth is made new. We will have troubles, but even in that we can have peace.