Sad, bad, scary, unfair, terrible, no-good things happen because sin happened.

And sin is going to keep right on happening until Jesus comes back to take the saved to live happily ever after for eternity.

Paul recognized this in his letter to the Roman church. In today’s verse, he wrote a long laundry list of the horrible things that might happen to the faithful believers. And then he spilled the secret to surviving persecution and emerging victorious: Jesus.

When you have Jesus on your side, you don’t have to worry about all those things getting you down. With Jesus, it doesn’t matter what earthly challenges you must endure. You might be persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death, but Jesus, who loves you, is bigger than all those things combined!

• Jesus is unshakable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

• Jesus is steadfast (Psalm 136). He makes good on His promises, always and forever (2 Peter 3:9).

• Jesus is dependable (Romans 8:38-39). He will never leave you (Deuteronomy 31:6, John 6:37). He is “I AM” (ego eimi in Greek, John 6:35; John 11:25).

So, today and always, fix your eyes upon Jesus! Then, with Paul, you too are more than conquerors!