Jesus, on the night he was betrayed told his Apostles, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Yet Solomon wrote, “No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.” What am I to make of this seemingly contradiction?
My life has had trouble and hardship just as Jesus said. Is Solomon wrong? Upon closer look the answer is no. Solomon said Harm will not overtake. The words harm and overtake are key.
Trouble has come, but harm did not overtake me. God, after testing my soul with trouble, turned my life circumstances around when I kept my faith in him. My life has had happiness, fun, and ordinary events, the mix of human experiences after trouble came and went. I learned not to give up on God and his promises to me. I always have my Lord to give me comfort and rescue me.
If I were wicked, where would I turn for rescue and help? Who would be there to take away the trouble? How would I take heart?
