Escape The World                                                                        8/28/07

John 16:33

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.

Have you ever thought about how many ways people try to escape the world?  Burdens become too heavy, trials are too stressful, our losses are too painful and escaping our problems becomes a necessary means of coping and moving forward in this life.  Alcohol, illegal drugs and prescription drugs are the substances that first come to mind although food can even turn against us as we eat for 'comfort'.  These are just a few ways we try to escape, but the list goes on and on.

Can you imagine living in this world without the burden of our problems?  The worldly solutions do not remove our problems.  They only provide short-term relief while causing possible long-term damage.  Jesus may not remove all of our problems either.  When we ask Him into our hearts, however, He furnishes us with His strength, power and wisdom to work through and deal with them.  Proverbs 3: 5-6 tells us:

 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

After watching my child endure a terminal illness and learning to cope without her, I am facing one of the greatest earthly challenges I can imagine.  If it weren't for God, I might be drowning in a pool of self-pity.  I might find it impossible to go on.  If I didn't have Him in my heart, I might even choose to blame God.  But thanks to Him, I can honestly say that I have more joy than I have ever had before.  How can this be when such a tragic event has occurred?  It is because I have hope and faith in what God is doing through Leslie's life and what He will do with other lives as a result of the trial.  The pain is temporary, but the changed lives will be for eternity.  One day I will get to see Leslie again and all who are enjoying the wonders of heaven because they grew in Christ through the story of a 7-year old girl with a brain tumor.

We will always be faced with problems, but the Lord helps us through them granting us an escape with true hope, peace and joy.  With Jesus in our hearts, it IS possible to 'escape the world' and have peace while living 'in' the world. 

If you are ready to give your problems to Jesus, I invite you to pray this prayer:

Father God, I ask that you come into my heart and guide my life toward your ways.  You know my problems, fears and temptations Lord.  I give these to you Lord and ask you to release me from their bondage.  Lord, Grant me your wisdom that leads to your peace and joy.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Be Blessed!