The following is an excerpt taken from Come to the Waters: Daily Bible Devotions for Spiritual Refreshment by James Montgomery Boice.

The Christian’s Peace

John 16:17–33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. John 16:33

The Christian’s peace is not an absence of conflict or any other kind of trial. Rather it is contentment and trust in God in spite of such circumstances. But it is not automatic. The conditions he lays down in this passage are two.

First, the peace Christ gives is for those who are “in him.” This is a conscious dependence on him and staying close to him that are the prerequisite to joy and fruitfulness in the Christian life. The gift of peace is appropriated only by those who depend on him, trust him, and remain close to him in their living of the Christian life.

Moreover, Christ’s peace requires that the words of Christ be in his followers. Jesus indicates this when he says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.” What things are these? He has spoken of his love for the disciples; that he would guarantee a personalized place in heaven for his followers; that he would himself send the Spirit and that he would come to be in them and work through them; that they would be given work to do in this world, making their lives meaningful; that their prayers would be answered and he would be interceding for them.

Finally, Jesus adds another teaching: “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Christ overcame the world in three areas: in his life, in his death, and in his resurrection. He overcame it in life because, in spite of abundant griefs and temptations, he pursued the course God had set before him without deviation, sin, or error. He overcame the world in death because his death was the price of sin and thus broke sin’s hold upon us. He overcame the world in his resurrection because by his resurrection he began his return to the throne of heaven from which he now rules the church and from which he will one day come again to put down all authority and power.

“I have overcome the world.” These words were spoken within the shadow of Golgotha, at the very foot of the cross. They were spoken on the verge of what surely seemed a defeat. But they were true then. And if they were true then, it is even more abundantly demonstrated that they are true now. Do you believe them? Is Christ the victor? If you do and if he is, then stand with him in his victory. Possess the peace that he dispenses, and in your turn also overcome the world. Does the world deride Christ’s gospel? So much the worse for the world. Do circumstances press us down? He has overcome circumstances. Stand with him then. He is the King. He is God over all, whose name is blessed forever.

Excerpt taken from Come to the Waters: Daily Bible Devotions for Spiritual Refreshment by James Montgomery Boice, page 256, copyright P&R Publishing 2017.