Did you hear about the brick layer who asked for a day off? Here’s what he told his supervisor:
“When I got to the building site, I found strong winds had knocked off some of my bricks from around the top of the building. So, I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple of barrels full of bricks.
“When I fixed the damaged area, I had bricks left over. So, I placed the extra bricks in a barrel. Then I climbed to the bottom and began releasing the line. Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was heavier than I was and before I knew it, the barrel started coming down, quickly jerking me upward.
“I hung on since I was too far off the ground by then to jump. Halfway up I met the barrel of bricks coming down and the barrel cracked my shoulder.
“When I reached the top of the building, I banged my head against a beam and pinched my finger in the pulley. Then the barrel hit the ground so hard it burst open, spilling all the bricks. Suddenly, I was heavier than the barrel. Then I started downward at rapid speed. Halfway down, I met the shattered barrel coming up again and it cracked me in the shins. When I hit the ground, I landed right smack on that pile of bricks.
“Then something bad happened. I let go of the line, and suddenly the barrel came down and crashed on top of my head. I had to go to the emergency room and get stitches. So, I need a day off.”
Wow! Ever had a day like that? We shouldn’t be surprised when our day goes sideways, for Jesus said, “In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
The word “tribulation” means to press together, to compress. It’s the picture of crushing grapes. Sometimes tribulations are aggravations and inconveniences.
One Florida mom posted about her day:
“Ran late this morning. Left house with half-dried hair. Traffic was bad. Got to appointment with one minute to spare. Realized Sunpass had not been updated. Wouldn’t accept password for ten minutes. Got it working. Deep breath.
“Fifteen minutes from home, gas light turns on. Made it to gas station. Calmed down.
“Ten minutes from home, child throws up in back seat. Child in front seat continuously comments on the smell. No wipes, paper towels, or tissues in car. Pull into next gas station. Child in front seat runs in to get wet paper towels while I help child in back seat. Bathroom closed for cleaning. Rolled windows down and tried to hold breath.
“I reminded myself life is 10% what happens to you and 90% your attitude. Then my attitude gauge started dropping like my gas tank heading to empty. I’ve got meetings and appointments scheduled into the early evening and all I want to do is crawl back in bed.
“But I remember, God’s in charge, and in the grand scheme theme things, today’s challenges are not problems as much as they are inconveniences.”
Sometimes tribulations are inconveniences more than catastrophes, but other times, life ambushes us with affliction. How do we possess peace while enduring chaos? In the first part of verse 33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you that, in Me you may have peace.”
Notice His contrast. In the world, tribulation. In Me, peace. When our focus is on Jesus and we’re relying on Him, we find peace while enduring crises.
Interestingly, as Jesus spoke these words in the Upper Room on the night before His crucifixion, Judas the betrayer slipped out of the room to meet with Jesus’ enemies to plot His arrest. Soon, Jesus would be arrested, forsaken by His closest friends, denied, humiliated, tortured, and executed.
Yet, He experienced peace. So can we. Jesus is the key to this deep, spiritual peace. The old bumper sticker is still true:
“No Jesus, No Peace
Know Jesus, Know Peace.”
Tribulation is promised, but peace is possible in Jesus because, as Jesus proclaimed, “I have overcome the world.”
[David L. Chancey, the Writing Pastor, lives in Fayetteville, Georgia, and retired this spring from his fulltime pastorate. He looks forward to expanding his writing ministry, continuing to preach, and visiting his grandchildren more often. View his writings at www.davidchancey.com.]
