John 16:33 “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.”

What is weighing you down today? When my daughter was about 11 years old, she was in church with me one Sunday morning together with my mother-in-law. We were singing that wonderful old hymn: “Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away, … I’ll fly away, O glory…” On the way home in the car my daughter said: “Mom, when you sing that song I get the feeling you really are going to fly away.” I laughed out loud and reassured her that I didn’t think it would be any time soon. But that is the hope of the believer. And it brings incredible joy right now especially when life gets tough.

We are in the world but not of it. Jesus said in John 15:19 “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” It should not surprise you then if you sometimes feel “out of place” here. We cannot afford to become so earthbound that we do not enter into heavenly places in Christ while still alive here. So rapturous praise is part of your new life! “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3). You have dual citizenship and so you have heavenly privileges you can exercise right now.  The joy of the Lord is your strength! So pray to your Father to empower you by the Holy Spirit to face life’s challenges with joy and courage.

Jesus knew what was happening in the hearts of the disciples just before his crucifixion and how real the difficulties were that they would face. The same is true about your situation and he now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for you. (Romans 8:34, Luke 22:69). You are not an orphan!