[Jesus said] "Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with Me. I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:32-33)

My family has been serving refugees and immigrants for 35 years now. During that time, we've dealt with a lot of crises, our own and those that happen to other people. And I would always say to myself, "We'll just get through today—this week—this month. Then life will go back to normal again!"

After 20 years I finally figured it out: This is what life is like, at least for our family. Crises are not interruptions to our life; crises are our life.

No doubt there are some people who do have calm, peaceful lives. But if you are not one of them, that's okay. Because Jesus is speaking to you when He says, "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

What does it mean, to have peace in Jesus? It doesn't mean the crises go away. He told us to expect suffering! But it means that we belong to the One who died and rose again to defeat the powers of darkness and to make us His own. It means that He has overcome the world; and because we belong to Him, we share in His victory.

WE PRAY: Lord, help me to lean on You, and give me Your peace! Amen.

Reflection Questions:

* Is your life full of tribulation? Or is it relatively peaceful?

* When trouble comes to you, how do you usually react?

* How do you lean on Jesus when crisis comes?

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Today's Bible Readings: Numbers 3-4    Mark 12:28-44

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