Today I told Satan, "You're gonna lose. In the end, you're going to LOSE." I thought that puny little devil might need reminding of that. Here is our scripture for today. It's a great one. 

John 16:32-33 "A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each of you to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 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."

If I can get 10 minutes without one of my kids eating a crayon, standing IN the toilet, or licking the dog, I like to look at commentaries to learn as much as I can about Bible passages. So, real quick, here's a run down of what John Gill's Commentary says about these two verses. It won't be boring, I promise you! 

The time of Jesus' arrest may have been within the hour. His disciples would, in fact, scatter back to their family homes, old jobs, and old friend groups. Though John and Peter would follow Jesus, even they followed him at a distance. When Jesus says he wouldn't be alone because "my father is with me," John Gill says that it is the "powerful and supporting presence" of God the Father that accompanies Jesus. Isn't that a great image? During this time, I want to imagine my Heavenly Father as a great and powerful supporter of me, his daughter. Here's where it gets really good. Hold onto your hats... err... your face masks. "I have told you these things so that IN ME you may have peace." This is a peace that the world can neither give, nor take away.  That is comforting because the next sentence says, "you will have trouble." The world = trouble. #truth! The anxiety I have because of what the world looks like right now feels like a heavy weight on my chest some days. Jesus continues... "But take heart!" John Gill points out that "trouble" is sandwiched in between "you may have peace" and "Take heart! I have overcome the world." The trouble is boxed in. Did you see that?! Peace. Trouble. Take heart! Our savior has overcome the world. He's overcome any and all trouble this world can throw at us. 

So tonight, on day... I dunno… of quarantine, I tried something different as a prayer in my journal.  I journaled my "troubles" and I boxed them in. Peace. Trouble. Jesus has overcome. I thought you might like to try it, too.  My biggest troubles during this time are fear, seeing the sickness and death, and emotional pain for the hurting going on around us.  I wrote my prayers like this.

I pray for peace. In this world I am experiencing fear. But I can celebrate! Jesus has overcome fear!

I pray for peace. In this world there has been so much sickness and death. But I can sleep at night... because Jesus overcame death itself!

I pray for peace. In this world, I am feeling so much emotional pain because of the suffering going on around me. But I can rejoice! My Jesus has overcome pain!

The song, "I've got peace like a river" comes to mind as I wrap up.  Washing away the troubles. Jesus overcoming. Take heart!  

Commentary: John Gill's Exposition of the Bible from biblestudytools.com