Christ Has Overcome the World
God’s Word is filled with rich promises for His children. How do these “precious and very great promises” inform and direct your grief? How does keeping your eyes fixed on these truths anchor your hope in the Lord? In this series, we write about how God, through the promises in His Word, comforts and strengthens us in our sorrow.
When I was in 9th grade, I found my favorite Bible verse:
“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.” John 16:33
As I read that verse, it felt like God was directly speaking to me. He was telling my little 14-year-old self, “There will be times in your life that will be difficult, but take comfort in knowing that I have claimed victory over everything.”
Over the years, I claimed that verse many times—through broken friendships, failed relationships, and uncertainty over the future. Through each circumstance, God continued to use that verse to speak truth into my soul. Little did I know that God had planted that Word in my heart, not just for life’s ordinary troubles, but in preparation for my life’s greatest heartache.
We found out at my 20-week ultrasound that something was wrong with our Kinley’s brain. The day that was suppose to be spent in celebration as we found out the gender of our baby, had turned into a day of confusion, grief, and fear. Yet, amidst the chaos, the words “I have overcome the world” still echoed through my mind. I felt certain God would make everything all right.
During my pregnancy, I was placed on bed rest because my amnion and chorion had separated, putting me at risk for pre-term labor. Still, my soul chanted, “I have overcome the world.” I knew God would see me and our precious baby through this.
When I went into labor and delivered Kinley at 27.5 weeks, I was fearful, yet rejoiced because she had arrived safely. I knew she would have a long hospital stay, but this was just temporary trouble. God would prevail, and our sweet, little fighter would just be proof of how God overcomes all obstacles.
Five weeks later, the doctor told us that Kinley was not responding as she should be at this point. Tests would be run, but the doctor feared it was a brain malformation. If this proved to be true, Kinley would never breathe on her own and would not survive. Even after hearing this news, I believed God would deliver a miracle. He would save my daughter and all glory would be given to Him as He overcame the world.
But instead, Kinley died.
All I could think was, “Why? Why, God? That wasn’t supposed to be the end of her story. You said You have overcome the world. How could you let this happen?” And yet, the verse kept going through my mind. As I cried, as I raged, as I grieved the loss of my precious daughter, the words of John 16:33 continued to ring in my ears.
It took some time, but I finally realized I had been limiting God to my interpretation of the verse. If you go back in John 16, prior to verse 33, you gain critical insight into what Jesus was saying: He was preparing His disciples for His death.
verse 16– “Jesus went on to say, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.’”
verse 20– “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”
verse 22– “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
The disciples expected Jesus to rule on earth during their time. They thought Jesus would overturn the Pharisees and false prophets, restore the nation of Israel to its former glory, and overcome all the obstacles that hindered their work for God.
But instead, Jesus died.
And I can hear their broken hearts saying, “Why? Why, God? That wasn’t suppose to be the end of Jesus’s story. You promised to overcome the world. How could you let this happen?”
But God did overcome the world. Through Jesus’ death, sin was paid. And through His resurrection, death was defeated.
As I soaked in this truth, I found joy in the promise of eternity with my Savior and the assurance of seeing Kinley again. You see, God did grant me a miracle with my sweet girl. It was, and is, the miracle of heaven. God sacrificed His Son so that me, my daughter, you, your hope babies, would not just experience victory in life, but victory in death through Christ.
As I write this article, my grandmother is dying. She is 97 years old, and though she has had a wonderful life, she is now on hospice. Her breathing is labored, and her time here on earth is drawing to a close. I explained earlier to my children that their Mimi would soon be going to heaven. At first, my 11 year old was very sad and quiet. He asked me if Mimi knew she was dying, and I told him that I wasn’t sure what she was thinking or aware of at this time. Then he said, “I don’t understand why people wear black to a funeral. This is going to be Mimi’s best day because she gets to see Jesus.”
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
-Revelation 21:4
Sometimes, God plants a verse deep in your heart that He knows you will need to get through the valleys. Other times, God speaks truth through a child to gently soothe your sorrow and bring joy to your soul. Always, God is present.
Troubles are guaranteed. But listen for God’s voice whispering, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Stephanie
Hope Mom to Kinley
Stephanie Blanks is married to Matt and has four children: Lyston (9), Kinley (who went home to Jesus in 2011), Levi (6), and Leighton (4). Stephanie works at the Chamber of Commerce in her small town of Hondo, TX. She enjoys singing in her church praise band, running, reading, and spending time with her family at the lake. You can read more from Stephanie on her blog.
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