For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5 ESV)

Overcoming the world does not mean solving its problems and conquering its challenges. It’s about not letting it bring you down and leave you spiritually defeated. The reality is that we all will have disappointments and pain along with victories and joy. These experiences run parallel with each other, and the enemy’s goal is to break you by hitting you with as many problems possible. If you read the Book of Job, you see how Satan just keeps piling on attacks in an attempt to fracture his faith, but he did not waver. God ended Job’s suffering and restored him after his faith had been put through the crucible of adversity.

He did not overcome the world by his own strength. It was the Lord who sustained him by placing limits on Satan and prohibiting him from ending his life. In the end, Job was fully restored ending a temporary period of suffering. When all in the world seems to be out of control, we are reassured by Job’s experience that God maintains full command over everything. Our belief in Jesus and his promises is what makes this world bearable because we know he will one day heal and renew all of it, including us.