The Increase Sample

PAUL MAHOLM

PEACE IN THE MIDDLE OF PAIN

We all have struggles. We all have pain. We all suffer. We all experience loss.

Early in my career I was pitching in the Minors, and I took a line drive to the face. The doctors said I might not ever have vision in one eye again.

During that time, my mom had cancer. And just after I married Jessica, my mom lost that intense battle.

Finally, in 2014 I was covering first base in a game that had already been decided against the Cubs. I tore my right ACL - I had torn the left one in high school.

For most of us, pain and suffering are simply an unwanted part of our journey. And when things like that happen, we can either lean into Jesus, or run away from Him.

If you read the entire chapter of John 16, you realize that Jesus is giving his disciples some discouraging (and fearful) news about what’s going to happen to them, at the hands of people who don’t get it. But at the end of the chapter, we see that He deeply desires for the disciples to have peace! Peace.

And what does it mean that peace is available? Does it mean we’ll never have any pain or suffering in this life? Absolutely not. Jesus didn’t sugar-coat anything, and He certainly refuses to do it here. He warns us all that we will have trouble in this world. But we can experience peace DURING these troubles as long as we realize one thing:

Jesus has overcome the world!

In other words, the powers that are behind the evil that lives in our world have been defeated by Christ on the cross. And that overwhelming realization brings us peace. True peace.

In my video story at thencrease.org, I talk about the presence of Jesus in the middle of suffering. Please come watch my story, and meet my loving mom and my beautiful wife.