“Don't Despair Because Our Troubles Will Pass”

John 16:16-22,33

Seasons of trouble and difficulty are only temporary; Winter will turn to Spring

Soul Food

“In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me. Then some of His disciples asked one another, ‘Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?’ They kept asking, ‘Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.’

Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, ‘Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’? Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy……I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!’”

- John 16:16-22,33

Soul Search

• Are you in the middle of a really difficult time in your life that is producing a lot of stress?
  Are you in despair because you can’t see an end to the difficulties anytime soon?

• What seemingly unending difficulties are you experiencing?
  Is there anything that comes to mind – that is morally and ethically good and acceptable - that you can do to minimize or eliminate the stress?

• Is your situation so difficult and tiring that you’re tempted to throw your hands up and just give up?

Soul Moves

• Ask God in prayer to remind you that you’re living in the “little while” and that your current situation won’t last forever.

• Determine that you’re not going to give up and that you’re going to keep working on the situations in your life that seem daunting and unending.

• Ask God to help you believe in, and have faith in, the power of prayer.
  Persevere in prayer until God brings answers to your situation.