Be of good cheer
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”—JOHN 16:33
Jesus said this to His beloved apostles in the Upper Room the night of His betrayal. He was going away, and they were going to be worried, fearful, anxious, troubled. Through that night He made promises to ease their troubled hearts. He even said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” And He promised them love and the Holy Spirit and answered prayer and peace. He said to them, “There’s no reason to be troubled. All that I’ve told you is so that you might have peace in your heart because you know the Holy Spirit is there. You have nothing to be anxious about. In the world, you will have tribulation.” That word actually means “trouble.”
It comes from a word that means “pressure.” “You will be squeezed tightly by the difficulties of this life, but in the midst of it, be of good cheer because in the end I’ve overcome the world.” That is to say there’s nothing the world can do to you that wins ultimately. Momentary pain, a momentary disappointment, but the world’s opposition has been rendered null and void.
And even though the world continues to attack the people of God, such attacks fall harmlessly, for Christ’s victory has already accomplished a smashing defeat of the whole world system.