Written By: Jacob Galura | Southeast Regional Coordinator

John 16: 32-33 says, “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.”

I love this verse because it’s Jesus’ last encouragement to the disciples before He sends them out. They know that they will no longer be physically with Jesus, and they will experience trials as they spread the gospel. As they walk through life, a new life, without Jesus on earth with them, they know He’s already overcome all the problems that they’ve had. He’s encountered and gone before them in all the difficulties and all the situations they face. He’s walking beside them, and He’s following up behind them as well.

We can take that same encouragement, knowing that even though we don’t have Jesus currently here with us physically on earth, we have the Holy Spirit within us. We can walk through life and face whatever comes our way, whether it’s storms or difficulties. And when we’re on mountaintops, we can celebrate what God’s doing. We can go through every situation in life knowing that God’s overcome everything, that the battle’s already won. Right now, we have a call to live out, which is to reach surfers and to grow the kingdom in His name.