“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 (NLT)

Often we are blown away when hard times come into our lives.  Being a Christian does not mean we will walk a carefree road.  Many think that people of faith say that Christians should never have troubles, but that is not true.  In fact, Jesus told us we will have trials.  But, He also said to be of good cheer (take heart) because He has already prevailed!

Troubles are afflicting many of us these days.  High gas prices, home foreclosures, an unstable roller coaster stock market, and more are hitting many of us.  People are being tried and pressed in from all sides.  What is our response, as Christians, to be?  We have two choices.

We can go through these times in misery or we can go through them in joy!

We can choose to murmur and complain, acting in fear, or, we can be of good cheer and trust in Him!

We need to focus on the solution – the Lord and His promises.  We must not focus on the troubles.  Now, this does not mean we deny the trouble – that would be silly.  We cannot be ignorant of what is going on around us.  But, we don’t have to major on the trouble.  We don’t have to listen to the naysayers.  We can turn off CNN (Constantly Negative News).  We can shun bleak conversations in which others are moaning and groaning.

God said He will deliver us!  He said He will meet our needs!  He said He will pick us up when we fall!  He said that He will never forsake us!  WOW!  What more do we need?

He made a promise to Abraham and that promise extends to us, Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:29).  That promise says that He blesses us, He curses our enemies and that our families are blessed!  We must focus on the promises of God.  He is our provider!

I encourage you today to turn off the gloom and doom; refuse to participate in it.  Turn up your faith, and turn on the Word and the promises of God!