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"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." (John 16:33)
Because He has overcome the world, and because we are in Him, so shall we also overcome. All this tribulation and trouble is temporary, but our life in Christ, and all the truly good things in life are eternal. We must not look too much at the trouble in our fallen world but instead keep looking to the Answer. To our inner turmoil, we can say (like Jesus said to the storm) "Peace, be still." In order to keep up our strength, we must at times take our eyes from the earth and look toward heaven. -- Dr. Bruce Atkinson
"If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace along the way, and glory at the end... all this our Savior has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no afflictions." -- Bishop J. C. Ryle
Where the secular culture becomes so intertwined with the kingdom of Christ, the collapse of the former leads to despair -- Michael Horton
There is good biblical evidence that God not only suffered in Christ, but that God in Christ suffers with his people still. Is it not written of God, during the early days of Israel's bitter bondage in Egypt, not just that he saw their plight and 'heard their groaning', but that 'in all their distress he too was distressed'? Did Jesus not ask Saul of Tarsus why he was persecuting him, thus disclosing his solidarity with his church? It is wonderful that we may share in Christ's sufferings; it is more wonderful still that he shares in ours. --- John Stott