And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

Why God? Why do bad things happen to good people? I'm sure we've all asked this
question in our lives.

I have a friend who has cancer. No treatment has worked so far on John, so they are in the
process of a stem cell infusion. The procedure is painful, and he is isolated from his family for the next 30 days. He carries the weight of his wife being both Mom and Dad for the next month as his kids return to school.  

John's body is broken, his mind is exhausted, and his soul is bruised as he walks this
unwanted journey.

We've all had those journeys, haven't we? Those moments where we grab the gloom the
world offers with both hands because at least we understand that. We believe we have faith, but then that crisis hits, and we find our faith fragile.

Jesus knows what it's like to take an unwanted journey. (Matthew 26:36-44) But because
He walked the road to Calvary and chose the unwanted journey, it's easier for us to walk up that hill of difficulty. It's so comforting to know that Jesus understands our unwanted journeys!

The disciples' faith was tested as well. (John 16:25-33) They understood who Jesus was.
They answered His questions of faith positively. But Jesus knew their faith was vulnerable. Right now, all is calm and safe. But soon, they will forget their weak faith and run for their lives.

Oh, how Jesus loves the disciples! He gives them the tools they need to overcome this
crisis they will soon face. "I have said these things to you, that in me you, have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

These very words are for us too. Jesus offers us the peace that only He can give. Not a
peace that is serene or the absence of crisis, but a peace we can only get from knowing Jesus, knowing the Truth.

When He says, "take heart!" He is prompting us to be courageous. No matter how hard
the world tries to beat us up, we have the Savior on our side. He has overcome the world. He has defeated sin, Satan, and death! When we know Jesus, we know that this world is not our home and that our eternity is secure. (Romans 6:23)

Our eternal home is a place where we will walk with God. (Revelation 21:1-4) There will
be no more pain, no more tears, and no more death! The challenges of this world will pass away. We can only imagine this today, but one day, we will live it every day.