Take Heart! Christ Has Overcome the World. You Can Face Whatever Comes!

When Bad News Comes Knocking at Your Door, When Life Suddenly Falls Apart, and When Troubles You Never Imagined Become Your Daily Reality, Jesus Christ Offers His Children a Wonderful Promise: Though Tribulation Is Certain in This World, His Peace Is Available, His Presence Is Unchanging, and His Victory Is Already Secured!

Scripture References — John 16:33 • Psalm 112:6–7

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

“Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.”

An important clarification: Psalm 112:7, rather than Psalm 11:7, is the passage about not fearing bad news. It beautifully expresses the very truth we want to teach our children.  

Some Personal Reflection: A Lesson Every Child Needs to Learn!

There is something that has been on my heart for a very long time, and the older I become, the more convinced I am of its importance. I wish every Christian father and mother would begin teaching their children, from the earliest possible age, the tremendous truth found in John 16:33.

We spend so much time preparing our children for the future. We teach them to read and write, to work hard, to be responsible, to respect others, and to make wise decisions. We encourage them to pursue their dreams, develop their abilities, and prepare for successful lives.

All of these things have their place. But I sometimes wonder whether we have neglected one of the most important lessons our children will ever need to learn.

Have we prepared them for suffering?

Have we taught them that life in this fallen world will not always be pleasant, predictable, comfortable, or fair?

Have we explained that there may come a day when their hearts will be broken, their dreams shattered, their health threatened, their friendships betrayed, or someone they dearly love suddenly taken from them?

Have we prepared them for the possibility of devastating disappointments, financial difficulties, serious illness, unexpected tragedy, and circumstances so painful that they cannot imagine how they will survive?

I am not suggesting that we frighten our children or rob them of the wonderful innocence and happiness of childhood. Quite the opposite!

I am suggesting that we prepare them for the realities of life by teaching them the promises of God.

There is a tremendous difference between raising a child who believes that following Jesus means nothing terrible will ever happen and raising a child who understands that terrible things may happen, but Jesus Christ will never abandon His own.

One child may grow up believing that a good life means a trouble-free life. The other understands that a good and faithful God remains sovereign even when life becomes terribly difficult.

Which child will be better prepared when tragedy comes knocking at the door?

This is why I believe Psalm 112:7 should be among the earliest verses we teach our children:

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.”

What a magnificent truth to plant in a young heart!

Bad news will come. It is no respecter of persons. It comes to the wealthy and the poor, the young and the old, the healthy and the sick, the believer and the unbeliever.

But the child who has learned to trust the Lord has been given something more valuable than an education, a comfortable home, or a substantial inheritance.

That child has been taught where to turn when the foundations of life begin to shake!

And that, dear friends, brings us directly to the extraordinary words of our Lord Jesus Christ in John 16:33.

Introduction: Jesus Never Promised Us a Trouble-Free Life!

Imagine the setting.

It is the evening before the crucifixion. Jesus is speaking to His disciples, men who have walked with Him, listened to His teaching, witnessed His miracles, and left everything to follow Him.

Their world is about to be turned upside down.

Within hours, their beloved Master will be betrayed, arrested, falsely accused, beaten, and crucified.

The disciples will experience fear, confusion, disappointment, and sorrow beyond anything they have previously known.

And Jesus knows every moment of what lies ahead.

What does He tell them?

Does He promise that nothing painful will happen?

 Does He assure them that following Him will protect them from heartbreak, persecution, and suffering?

Absolutely not!

Instead, He gives them one of the most realistic, comforting, and victorious promises in all of Scripture:

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Notice carefully that Jesus does not say they might experience tribulation.

He says they shall experience it.

The word translated tribulation comes from the Greek word thlipsis, carrying the idea of pressure, affliction, distress, or crushing circumstances.

Jesus was preparing His disciples for the realities of living faithfully in a fallen and hostile world.

But He did not leave them with the certainty of suffering alone.

He gave them something infinitely greater: the certainty of His victory!

Main Point #1 — Trouble Is Certain, but God Is Never Surprised!

One of the greatest mistakes Christians can make is believing that suffering is somehow abnormal in the Christian life.

We sometimes hear teaching that suggests sufficient faith will guarantee health, prosperity, protection from tragedy, and freedom from serious hardship.

But such teaching cannot survive an honest reading of Scripture.

Consider the lives of God's faithful servants.

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery.

Job lost his possessions, his children, and his health.

David spent years fleeing from Saul.

Jeremiah endured rejection and imprisonment.

 Paul experienced beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, persecution, and imprisonment.

And our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was despised, rejected, and crucified.

Why, then, should we imagine that the Christian life will be free from suffering?

Peter wrote:

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” — 1 Peter 4:12

Dear Christian, when trouble enters your life, do not immediately conclude that God has abandoned you or that something has gone terribly wrong with His purposes.

Sometimes the very trials we desperately wish to escape become the instruments God uses to strengthen our faith, deepen our dependence upon Him, and conform us more closely to the image of His Son.

God does not delight in our suffering, but neither does He waste it.

What catches us completely by surprise has never taken our heavenly Father by surprise!

And this is precisely why our children must be taught these truths early in life.

When they encounter their first crushing disappointment, their first painful betrayal, or their first devastating loss, they should already know that God's faithfulness has not changed.

The storm may be unexpected to them, but it has never been unexpected to Him.

Main Point #2 — When Bad News Arrives, Fix Your Heart Upon the Lord!

Let us return to that beautiful declaration in Psalm 112:7:

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.”

I cannot think of many verses more practical for the daily Christian life.

The expression evil tidings simply means bad news—news that brings sorrow, fear, distress, or uncertainty.

Perhaps it is a telephone call informing you that someone you love has died.

Perhaps it is a physician explaining that the test results are not what you hoped.

Perhaps it is a letter announcing financial disaster, a broken relationship, a serious family crisis, or an unexpected tragedy.

What are we supposed to do when that news arrives?

The psalmist gives us the answer.

Our hearts must be fixed, trusting in the LORD!

Notice that the verse does not promise we will never experience fear, sadness, or emotional pain.

Even the strongest believer may tremble when devastating news arrives.

 Tears are not evidence of unbelief. Grief is not a denial of God's goodness.

The promise describes a settled confidence in the Lord that prevents fear from having the final word.

A heart fixed upon God is a heart anchored in His character, His promises, His wisdom, and His sovereignty.

When circumstances change, God does not.

When our strength fails, His strength remains.

When the future appears frightening, His purposes remain secure.

And when everything around us seems to be falling apart, the everlasting arms of our heavenly Father are still underneath us!

Consider how valuable this lesson would be to a young child.

Instead of teaching our children merely to hope that nothing bad ever happens, we can teach them to ask four simple questions whenever trouble comes:

1. Who is still in control? Our sovereign God!

2. Who has promised never to forsake His children? The Lord Jesus Christ!

3. Where should I turn first? To my heavenly Father in prayer!

4. What must I do next? Trust Him, obey His Word, and take the next faithful step!

These are not complicated theological concepts reserved for mature believers.

They are foundational truths that even young children can begin learning.

And when repeated throughout childhood, they can become deeply rooted convictions that sustain them throughout their lives.

Main Point #3 — The Peace Jesus Gives Is Greater Than the Trouble We Face!

Return once again to the opening words of John 16:33:

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.”

Notice those two wonderful words: “in me.”

Jesus does not say that His disciples will find lasting peace in favorable circumstances, good health, financial security, or the approval of others.

He says they will find peace in Him.

This is one of the most important distinctions in the entire Christian life.

The peace of the world depends upon what is happening around us.

The peace of Christ rests upon our relationship with Him.

The world's peace disappears when circumstances deteriorate. Christ's peace can remain even when circumstances become unbearable.

The apostle Paul understood this truth.

Writing from imprisonment, he encouraged believers not to be consumed by anxiety but to bring their concerns before God through prayer and thanksgiving.

Then he gave this remarkable promise:

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7

Think about that!

Paul was not writing from a luxurious home, surrounded by every imaginable comfort.

He was writing as a man who understood imprisonment, persecution, physical suffering, and the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Yet he knew that the peace of God could guard the hearts and minds of His children.

Dear friend, perhaps you are presently living through a season of tremendous suffering.

Perhaps your body is failing, your family is struggling, or your future seems terribly uncertain.

You may be wondering how much longer you can endure.

Remember this wonderful truth:

Jesus never promised that you would escape every storm. He promised something far greater—peace in Himself while the storm is raging!

And sometimes His peace is experienced not as an overwhelming emotion but as the quiet grace to continue trusting Him one more day.

Main Point #4 — Be of Good Cheer: Jesus Has Already Overcome the World!

Now we come to the triumphant conclusion of our Lord's promise:

“But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

What magnificent words!

Jesus does not tell His disciples to be courageous because they are naturally strong, exceptionally gifted, or capable of overcoming every difficulty through their own determination.

He tells them to take courage because He has overcome the world!

The Greek verb translated overcome is “nikaō,” meaning to conquer or gain the victory.

Jesus speaks with the certainty of One whose victory cannot be defeated.

Although His crucifixion is only hours away, He knows that the cross will not be His defeat. Through His death and resurrection, He will accomplish the redemption of His people and triumph over sin, death, and the powers of darkness.

The world may persecute His followers, but it cannot destroy their eternal inheritance.

Suffering may weaken their bodies, but it cannot separate them from His love.

Death itself may claim their earthly lives, but it cannot rob them of everlasting life in Christ.

This is why Paul could declare:

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” — Romans 8:37

Notice that Paul says in all these things, not apart from all these things.

God's people are conquerors even in the midst of tribulation, distress, persecution, and suffering.

Our victory is not found in escaping every painful experience.

Our victory is found in belonging to the Savior who has already conquered!

And this is the message our children desperately need to hear.

Not that they will always win every contest, achieve every ambition, avoid every heartbreak, or enjoy a life without disappointment.

But that Jesus Christ is greater than every circumstance they will ever face.

Prison Application: When Bad News Comes Through the Prison Gates!

For the men and women living behind prison walls, John 16:33 is not merely an encouraging passage of Scripture.

It is a truth that must be lived out in some of life's most difficult circumstances.

Think of the many forms of bad news that can arrive in a prison.

A letter announces the death of a beloved parent.

A telephone call brings news that a marriage has ended.

A child no longer wishes to communicate.

A parole hearing ends in disappointment.

 A medical examination reveals a serious illness.

A transfer separates a prisoner from the few friends who have encouraged him.

For those serving lengthy sentences, and especially for those who may never leave prison, the accumulation of such losses can become almost overwhelming.

And what about the prisoner who has been praying for years for a particular outcome, only to receive news that seems to crush every remaining hope?

What is he supposed to do?

He must return to the words of Jesus.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

My dear incarcerated brother or sister, your prison sentence may determine where you live, but it cannot determine whether Christ will remain faithful to you.

Your circumstances may restrict your freedom, but they cannot imprison the promises of God.

You may receive devastating news tomorrow, but you can begin preparing your heart today.

Memorize Psalm 112:7.

Meditate upon John 16:33.

Learn to pray before the crisis arrives, not merely after it has overwhelmed you.

And when the terrible news finally comes, remember:

You do not have to understand everything God is doing in order to trust the God who is doing it.

This does not mean you will never weep, grieve, or struggle.

It means that even in your deepest sorrow, you have a Savior who will never leave you.

And if you are a parent or grandparent behind prison walls, do not underestimate your opportunity to teach these truths to your children through letters, telephone calls, and conversations.

You may not be able to protect them from every hardship, but you can point them to the One who will sustain them through every hardship.

That is a legacy of eternal value.

Final Thought: Prepare Your Heart Before the Storm Arrives!

I want to return to the concern with which we began.

What a wonderful gift Christian parents could give their children if they would faithfully teach them, from their earliest years, that life will include sorrow, disappointment, hardship, and tribulation—but that Jesus Christ will always be sufficient.

Imagine a generation of young believers who have been taught not merely how to succeed when life is going well, but how to trust God when life becomes terribly difficult.

Imagine children growing into adulthood with Psalm 112:7 written upon their hearts.

Imagine them receiving frightening news and remembering the words their parents taught them years earlier:

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.”

What a difference that could make!

I have lived long enough to understand that some of life's most difficult trials arrive without warning.

One moment everything seems relatively normal, and the next moment life changes in ways we never imagined.

There are circumstances we cannot reverse, losses we cannot recover, and afflictions we cannot simply wish away.

But there is one thing that has remained wonderfully certain through every changing season of life.

The Lord Jesus Christ has never ceased to be faithful!

And that is the truth I want every child, every parent, every prisoner, every suffering believer, and every weary saint to understand.

We do not know what tomorrow may bring.

But we know who holds tomorrow.

And because Jesus Christ has overcome the world, His children can face tomorrow with confidence—not confidence in themselves, but confidence in Him.

Teach your children this truth while they are young. Practice it yourself while the skies are clear. And when the storm finally comes, remember that the Savior who warned you about tribulation is the very Savior who promised you His peace!

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. Have I mistakenly believed that following Christ should protect me from serious suffering and disappointment?

2. Am I preparing my children or grandchildren for the inevitable trials of life by teaching them the promises of Scripture?

3. When frightening news arrives, is my first response to panic, or do I turn to my heavenly Father in prayer?

4. What does it mean personally for my heart to be fixed, trusting in the LORD, as Psalm 112:7 teaches?

5. Have I been seeking peace primarily through favorable circumstances rather than through my relationship with Jesus Christ?

6. What present trial is God calling me to face with renewed confidence in His sovereignty and faithfulness?

7. How can I encourage someone who is presently overwhelmed by bad news to remember that Jesus Christ has overcome the world?

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding us that although tribulation is certain in this fallen world, Your faithfulness is even more certain.

Teach us to prepare our hearts before the storms arrive.

Help us to raise our children and grandchildren upon the unchanging promises of Your Word.

When frightening news comes, keep our hearts fixed upon You.

 Give courage to the fearful, strength to the weary, comfort to the brokenhearted, and peace to those who are suffering.

May we never forget that our Savior has overcome the world and that nothing can separate us from His everlasting love. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, our victorious Lord and Savior, Amen.

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.” — Psalm 112:7

From: Fight the Good Fight of Faith / Life Journal: by Gregg Harris