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When Mendy, my fourth daughter, was a little girl, she had one special little friend that happened to be a boy named Brad. Dolls were not usually her thing, but crawling around in ditches with her friend trying to find the enemy suited her fine. She always came in dirty from the day of playing with the scent of the outdoors on her clothes. I didn’t know what she and Brad talked about, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t cute boys and cool shoes.
One summer day while playing with golf ball and clubs, she comes in the house bleeding but not crying. When asked what happened, she told us they were hitting the golf ball around in the yard and Brad accidentally hit her with the club in the face. Investigating further as we drove her to the hospital for stitches, she explained, I was too close to him because I thought he was going to putt, but he decided to drive.
I have certainly been there in life when I thought there was going to be a putt, but a drive hit me right between the eyes. We have all been there when a steady job was no longer there after many years of employment. When your once Christian child took on the opinions of the world and broke your heart. We, as a family, have felt the pain of an unexpected turn of events. Our daughter Missy was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and has fought for three years to be cancer free. Hallelujah she is healthy and living life with her family enjoying every minute. Recently, our gun-slinging, worm catching, dirty faced tomboy received news of cancer as well. Again, she wasn’t expecting a drive. I don’t like to think about it but Jesus said himself that we would have trouble.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)
As I considered these words, they drew me to the word peace in this verse, as it is often lacking when a putt turns into a drive. Our English language does not catch the true meaning as it was written in scripture. The expression peace or shalom means not merely a lack of turmoil, but also the notion of positive thinking or right standing with God. Another rendering is, “all is well” in one's life.
When I was a new Christian, I thought that life would be, as scripture says, “all is well.” We even sing “It Is Well” and if any verse in the bible said contrary, I ignored it. Life has taught me many lessons all these years later. The verse in the English Standard Version says we will have “tribulations”, the New Living Version says, “trials and sorrows” while the New International Version says we will have “trouble.”
I have known troubles, tribulations and more descriptive than the other versions, trials and sorrows have been mine. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. “Take heart! Because I have overcome the world even when a putt turns to a long drive.” (John 16:33 NLT)
Jeanie Nihiser
Volunteer and Prayer Warrior with Answers2Prayer Ministries
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)
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