Jesus wasn't kidding around when he promised us, "in the world you will have tribulation." (John 16:33b, ESV) We are not of this world anymore—we don't live for the same things, and we don't love things that are contrary to God, at least not most of the time. This not only makes us feel different or rejected at times, but it also makes us feel like underdogs, hanging on for a chance of survival.
We forget that Jesus finishes that verse by telling us to "take heart; I have overcome the world." Not only that, John then expands this promise saying, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (1 John 5:4, ESV).
So, this week let's pray according to the truth of these scriptures!