(John 16:33) We don’t serve a disconnected or distant God. We don’t follow a Father who cannot relate with our experiences, who cannot understand our everyday struggles and burdens. No, instead, in Your everlasting love and mercy, You came to us—You sent Your Son, Jesus, down to earth in the ultimate act of selflessness, sacrifice, and love. You gave us the perfect, unimaginable gift of Your Son to bear our burdens for eternity and to experience the “trouble and sorrows” of “this unbelieving world.” Lord, thank You that You are a God who can empathize with us. Thank You that You know us completely, because of Jesus. And more than that, thank You that You give us both an example and the power to overcome this world, to rise above our burdens. Through Jesus, You overcame the world, and we know that if we trust in You, that same power lives within us. That same power lives within ___. Because You overcame, we can overcome. Because You conquered the world, ___ can conquer the burdens in their life through Your Holy Spirit. We know that to be true, so remind ___ of that truth, Father. Awaken that power with them. Equip ___ to overcome as You have overcome. I ask this in the holy, perfect, powerful name of Jesus, Amen.