The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you.”

—1 Peter 4:12

When things go wrong, we often begin looking for the reason. “What did I do to deserve this?” we ask. “Why is this happening to me?”

We forget that Jesus told us, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Even he would’ve preferred not to endure the suffering he did: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

If Jesus himself—perfect and sinless as he is—did not escape the suffering of this fallen world, we should not expect to do so either.

Jesus has overcome the world and the power of death and sin, but we still live in it in these fleshly bodies with all the other fleshly people around us.

While that continues, there will always be a battle. Christ overcame the world in that we no longer must be controlled by its pursuits and desires (Romans 6:5–6), and we no longer need to be terrified of death (1 Corinthians 15:54–57).

We can’t always know the reason we are going through difficulties. Sometimes it’s discipline meant to purify our hearts, keep us from loving this world, and teach us perseverance. Sometimes it’s to bring God glory. Sometimes it’s a consequence of sin, whether our own or that of others.

No matter the cause, we can know Jesus, and we can be certain he gives us what we need to walk through those difficulties until our final redemption out of struggle and into the glory of eternity.

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