John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (NLT)

I believe everyone has heard the age old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  There is a myriad of answers, questions, and tangents that we can go off on that subject.  Perhaps I will, at another time.

What I want to point out is something else.  Jesus, Himself, said this would happen.  We are going to face problems, sickness, suffering, sorrow, and death.  In this world, it cannot be avoided.  No one is gonna get out alive! (Not in the normal thinking anyway)

Jesus sacrificed Himself for our redemption and as an example for us.  What we have been promised is that we are not alone.  God is with us.  He is for us. He will aid us.  We are asked to be fearless, not be faint, be Christ-minded, and not be swayed from the work of God.

There is a curious thing about the above verse.  The Greek word used for overcome comes from the root word… wait for it … “Nike.”

The very nature of the word implies that for us to be victorious, to conquer, to overcome, and to prevail that there will be a battle.  Sometimes to do that, we must make sacrifices.  I guess we need to just do it.