What Charlie taught about hope
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart: Jesus has overcome the world.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (KJV)
“And then the last thing is this, which is the best news of all… despite what the devil might be telling you, despite what those thoughts might be weighing down on you, we are promised victory.”
Charlie's hope was not a mood. It was a promise. In his message on spiritual warfare at Awaken Church he said he wanted to give them the best news of all: despite what the devil might be telling you, despite the thoughts weighing on you, we are promised victory.
He was honest about the other half. He pointed to the part of John 16:33 that he said we don't talk about, the line that says in this world you will have trouble. He repeated it three times, and then he put it plainly: Jesus is saying you're going to have trouble.
“But the Lord is faithful and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. It says in John 16:33, I have told you these things that you may have peace, but then all of a sudden there's a part of the scriptures that we don't talk about. In this world, you will have trouble. In this world, you will have trouble. In this world, you will have trouble. Jesus is saying, you're going to have trouble… He said you're going to have trouble, but then Jesus says, but take heart. I've overcome the world. Take heart.”
He also told them it is not unique. If you think it is strange that you are being harassed by the evil one right now, he said, it is not strange. Jesus said you will have trouble. That is a kind of comfort in itself: your hard season does not mean something has gone wrong with your faith.
And then the turn that carries everything: take heart, I have overcome the world. Charlie said it twice. The hope is not that life will be easy, or that the hardest thing will not happen. It is that the Lord is faithful, that he will strengthen you and protect you, and that the one who has overcome the world is on your side.
That is the hope Scripture gives and the hope Charlie held out. It does not ask you to deny the dark. It asks you to take heart in the middle of it.
Living it today
Name the one thing that is weighing on you today and say it out loud to the Lord. Then say John 16:33 over it, slowly, and finish with two words: take heart.
A prayer
Lord, you told me I would have trouble, and you were right. You also told me you have overcome the world. Strengthen me today, protect me, and give me the peace that only you can give. Help me take heart. Amen.