When my life seems to be going badly, I retreat from the world. In those times, I don’t like the world, and the world doesn’t like me. I go into “survival mode,” avoiding the world as much as I can. I tell myself, Just get by, day to day; make it through the next minute, hour, and day, then a few days. When you are facing great suffering, perhaps you go into some kind of “survival mode,” too. While we realize each day has enough trouble of its own (see Matthew 6:34), we must come to learn that curving in on ourselves may bring about survival for today, but it is not what’s best for us in the long run.
More than just surviving, we are able to overcome the world because, as John says in today’s Scripture passage, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We look to Him! Because we know He reigns and His purposes for us are good, we can take on each day’s battles.
Even as we have small victories, we know the war against sin and death was fought and won for us by Jesus. By faith in Him, we can get beyond life’s hard moments, days, and years.