Today we are going to take a posture of peace by asking the right question when we face trouble
of any kind. Posture is a short audible fist bump to remind you God is with you
in everything. Together we're going to be emboldened to take a daily posture of perfect peace.
In John 16 33 Jesus said, I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.
In the world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.
In John 16 33 here we find a beautiful promise for peace. For peace when it is needed the most.
In trouble, any kind of trouble. Jesus wasn't specific so I'm guessing he means all.
You know we've come to this promise again and again as a posture community because this
scripture was key for me in my own story of overcoming anxiety, panic, and fear and so it
has become written on my heart so I come back again and again to these precious words from
Jesus because as we discussed last week the word of God is alive and active so there is always more
to discover and experience the more we engage with the word of God. And there is a key here
in John 16 33 that I want to share with you today. It is a key that will unlock you from the pressure
of any trouble that you may be facing and it will open you up to peace because that's what keys do
right? They lock, they unlock, and they open doors for us. You know Jesus said in the world you will
have trouble, but take heart, other translations, be of good cheer, take courage, be encouraged, I
have overcome the world. Jesus says in the world, but I. So here's the key, when you face trouble
of any kind, make it about him before you make it about you. Again remember what we talked about
last week in episode 177? You and I, we carry a greater word. Jesus, the living word of God,
is living inside of us and we are hidden in him. The greater word outshines, outlasts, outperforms
any other word spoken to us or spoken over us. This is good news because trouble speaks to us,
trouble tries to speak over us, it tries to define us, it tries to dictate how we think, how we act,
what we believe, who we believe, but when we focus on the greater word we see things accurately
because we are looking at things through the lens of truth. So here is how I have been practicing
using this key, making it more about him before making it about me in my own hard circumstances.
When I face trouble, instead of asking why, I first ask who. Instead of playing mental gymnastics
trying to figure out why is this happening, why me? Why the delay in getting this circumstance
resolved? Why are things so hard right now? You know which, asking all those questions only puts
my focus on me, right? My weakness, my inability, my lack, the misery of the circumstance I'm in,
the limitations of worldly solutions and resources, all subtly breeding hopelessness in my head and
heart. Instead of asking why, I put that question away and I ask who? Who is God? I remind myself
of his nature and then I ask who does God want to be for me in this circumstance?
What does he want to reveal to me about himself? And then I ask who am I becoming in him? Because
remember Genesis 1 26, we are being made in his image and likeness and this is good news because
Jesus said he has overcome the world, therefore we are overcomers too. Now I don't believe,
I've talked about this before, I don't believe God causes trouble in our lives to teach us lessons,
he's not an abusive father. Trouble is just what a broken world gives us, but God does take
advantage of the trouble we face here in this broken world to transform us more into his
glorious image and his victorious likeness. God loves to stand with you.
you in your weakest places and empower growth in the lowest part of your life.
This is who he is. He is the God who is with us in the valley of the shadow of death, Psalm 23.
He is the God who makes a way in the wilderness and puts a river in the desert, Isaiah 43.
He is the God who is our refuge and our strength and our very present help in times of trouble,
Psalm 46. This is his nature. This is what we discover by asking who instead of asking why.
He's standing with you right now in your low places today. And he's saying, you know,
while we're here, let's take some more territory. Let's make the enemy pay. Let's heal. Let's
restore. Let's redeem. Let's reconcile. Let's bring wholeness to every broken place.
This is his nature. This is who he is. And who he is, is who you are becoming
more and more every day. You're being made in his image and likeness. Your circumstances,
your traumas do not have to be the thing that shapes you or defines your future.
You can be free from all of that negativity today. Let his nature be what shapes you.
Let his plans and purposes be what defines your future. That is what he is offering. He is
offering himself. That's the kind of loving father that he is. Rich in mercy, abounding in love,
steadfast in faithfulness. And he does not change even when our circumstances do.
This is what we discover when we ask who. Any kind of trouble you face is just an opportunity
to become more like him. That's why James writes, consider it pure joy when you face trouble of any
kind. You're being upgraded. You're being empowered. You're being transformed. And
that is very good news. That's a process you can actually delight in and not dread.
So today, don't ask why. Start asking who.