Text: I John 5:1-5

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV

“It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” (A League of Their Own)

Tom Hanks’ coaching philosophy doesn’t just apply to women playing baseball in the 1940s, but for all of us who desire to live for the glory of God.

The hard is what makes it great.

In John 16, Jesus assured his followers that in this world they would certainly face hardships. “But take heart,” Jesus said. “I have overcome the world.” There are a lot of big “buts” in the Bible, and this is definitely a big one! Jesus wants us to know that no matter what we face in our lifetime, it has already been conquered by His death and resurrection. Through Christ, we don’t fight for victory, we fight from victory.

Imagine being Moses and God calls you to confront the mighty Pharaoh and tell him to let God’s people go. I’m paraphrasing here, yet the conversation goes something like this: “Moses, I’m going to use you to lead multitudes out of slavery and oppression. I’m going to do many signs and wonders through you to convince Pharaoh I am with you, but oh by the way, I’m gonna make it very difficult by hardening Pharaoh’s heart so that he will not listen to you.” We can almost hear Moses’ reluctance: “God, please send someone else!”

Even David, a man after God’s own heart and destined to be a great king, while pursuing God’s plan with all of his heart, had other people trying to kill him. A man he highly respected, King Saul, wanted David destroyed, though all David did was honor this man. David’s own son, Absalom, betrayed his father in an attempt to hijack his throne. These accounts and others caused David to write thoughts like those penned in Psalm 31:1, 11-12…

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge… Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have been forgotten like one who is dead…”

You’d think life would be a little easier for a man who pursued God with all of his heart. But there is not much glory for God in the easy.

Imagine being Nehemiah with such a compassionate vision to help people rebuild their lives and restore hope for their young ones. It’s such a noble cause, yet all this kind-heartedness is met by a steady arm of resistance, unwarranted attacks on his character and reputation, and a ruthless plot to assassinate him. God if you are supposed to be in this, why all the drama?—Nehemiah may have thought.

Well, the drama, or the hard, is what makes it great. Because God is most glorified not when the cards are in our favor, but when the deck is stacked against us—and we overcome.

So how do we overcome the hard? The Apostle John writes:

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)

It’s not the greatness of our faith that overcomes the hard; it’s the greatness of our God in Whom our faith resides, that affords us the victory.

John wanted his readers to be assured: You have overcome—for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Remember friend; your hardship is the birthplace of a greater glory at work in your life. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

Prayer

Father, our hardships are never pleasant. Yet they are necessary. If we didn’t face difficulties in life, we wouldn’t need YOU. We also understand that hardships are where You show Yourself strong, and make Your fame known to an unbelieving world. Help us to remember this as we lean into Your grace in every adverse situation that we encounter. May it be an opportunity for You to magnify Your glory in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God is most glorified not when the cards are in our favor, but when the deck is stacked against us—and we overcome. Tweet this

Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:

1. What is the hardest thing you have ever had to face in your life? What brought you through?
2. Why do people often believe the myth that if we are doing the right thing and following God faithfully, life should be easier?
3. Like David, have you ever felt betrayed by an individual or a group of people that you felt you faithfully served? What affect did that have on your life?
4. In what ways can forgiveness create a pathway to victory in your life?
5. What kinds of hardships are you facing in this season of your life? How can you face them with a resolve that God is going to be glorified through them?

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