Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble," Faith-shaking trouble; when darkness covers and almost snuffs out our fire. "But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33 There are 2 overlapping realities - the troubled world and the peace of being in the presence of Jesus Christ. He promised us this peace, but he also promised us trouble... Individually, these 2 realities are not very good theologies: "Bad things happen but that's how life is," "God can do anything and therefore I will never suffer!" Instead, we need to combine the 2 and know that although there will be troubling times in life, we can have the confidence that Jesus is an overcoming Savior. "We have this hope as an anchor to the soul, firm and secure, it enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf" - Hebrews 6:19 - 20 Jesus becomes our middle man so that we can be close to God....