By Tanya Jolliffe RDN, LD, CMHIMP
Sometimes it feels like everything gets thrown at us all at one time. Ever live in a season like that? Over the last few weeks, I have attended three funerals, sat by the bedside of a loved one on a ventilator, and supported my husband as he faced an unexpected job loss. As I was pondering these events, the Scripture from John 17:14-15 (NIV) came to mind, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
Soon, I found myself humming an old song from the 1970’s I used to hear my mother sing when she faced a challenge, “The World Didn’t Give It To Me (and the world can’t take it away).” (Give it a listen.) The words filled my heart as I hummed the old, yet catchy and familiar tune: “The world didn’t give it to me, and the world can’t take it away. This happy face that I’m wearing, Jesus put it there to stay, the world didn’t give it to me, and the world can’t take it away.”
I quickly focused on the truth that both the Scripture and the song lyrics presented to me. I have been given the word to use as I love the Lord with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength as I live IN this world. Although some in this world may hate me because of it, it’s ok since I am not OF this world. Jesus desires to protect me from the evil one and my joy comes from and is made complete in Him and not from the situations of this world.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29: 11-13 NIV).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 22-23 NIV).
This world can throw a lot of stuff at us. When it does, it is important to remember that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Thank goodness Jesus came that we “may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10 NIV) as we focus daily on living IN the world but not OF it. As believers, we are called to be set apart from the world to live a holy and righteous life by developing fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us. Some days it feels harder to do that than others, but if we keep the word in our hearts, the truth will guide us through.
So, next time the world is piling up on you, remember the catchy tune and words of truth from song and scripture as you change your perspective about what you are facing because the world doesn’t give it to you, and the world can’t take it away.
