Life Without Mother

John 16:33—“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.”

Every single time I read this verse (which I just did in my 30-day trek through the New Testament–a highly recommended challenge for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in scripture), my heart leaps. I am flooded with joy, with hope. Jesus never promised life to be easy. He actually promised it to be hard. He says, “you will have trouble”. There is no “might” or “maybe” or “if”. Trouble is just the occupational hazard of living in this world. This messed up, evil-filled world where the prince of darkness constantly “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8) will persecute those who love and live like Jesus.
No one can deny that I have had my fair share of troubles this year. But I wouldn’t exchange those troubles for anything. Because they brought me out of complacency and dependency on family and myself to this wonderful place of complete and utter dependence upon Him. I have no qualms in saying that if I did not have Jesus through this unexpected bend in the road, I probably wouldn’t be here. But thank be to God for His grace and mercy in revealing Himself to me long ago that I might share my testimony today with any and everyone who will listen.
Jesus tells His disciples that we will have His joy and that it will be complete! How is it that my joy this side of the most searing pain I’ve known is so much more full and abundant than what I’d ever experienced before? All I know is that I know my Jesus on a deeper level now because of this trial that He had to carry me through. He carried me close to His beautiful heart and now I can’t help but pursue Him more and more. He has shown me what satisfaction in Him brings: a burning desire to know Him fully. Of course, until I see Him face to face, I will never have a complete knowledge of Him, but until the day He calls me Home, I will not stop searching. This joy that bubbles from within, escaping in tears and laughter even in the quiet solitude of my room, comes from this unequaled pursuit of my Jesus—my Lord and my Saviour! Oh, how I long for that glorious day when I shall meet Him and my Heavenly Father! But I am content to wait, to daily learn of His great love and live in that love. May my life follow the marvelous example set before us of service, sacrifice, and love!

Forever His,
Hannah