God didn’t promise that the believer would not face trails, hardships, set backs, pain, or sorrow in this world.  In fact, He assured us that we would experience trouble (John 16:33 – 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.).

Instead, God promised that He would empower us to overcome.  When I think about that word, I see a big tank advancing through enemy lines.  Shots are fired – it keeps coming. A vehicle is in the path – it rolls right over it.  Over smooth sands or rocky terrain, like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps moving.  The tank travels over and through the danger, perhaps banged up and scarred, but never stopping.

God, through His Son Jesus Christ, has given us His power to overcome the pitfalls and trials that we face.  The key, though, is remembering that He is the Victor.  When difficulties come, do we focus on the circumstances or on the God of the circumstances.  The driver in the tank maintains a focus on the goal; the debris in the way is just something to move through.

Heartaches will come.  Trials are certain, but God does not leave us defeated or defenseless.  He won the victory on the cross and sealed it in the resurrection.  Take heart, and roll on!

I John 5: ⁴For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Romans 8: ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.