John 16:1

This verse comes from what's called Jesus' "Farewell Discourse" — a long conversation Jesus has with his disciples the night before his arrest and crucifixion. He knows what's coming: betrayal, trial, death. He also knows his followers are about to face something that will shake them to the core. The phrase "go astray" can also be translated "stumble" or "fall away" — the original Greek word carries the idea of being so shocked or destabilized that you abandon what you believe. Jesus is essentially saying: I'm telling you the hard things now so that when they happen, you won't lose your footing.

Jesus, thank you for not protecting me from the truth. You warned your disciples because you loved them, and you do the same for me. When things unravel and I feel blindsided, remind me that none of this surprised you — and that you're still here. Amen.

There's a strange kind of love in a warning. When someone who knows what's coming tells you before it arrives, that's not cruelty — it's care. A doctor who levels with you about a hard diagnosis isn't being unkind. A friend who says "this is going to be harder than you think" isn't being pessimistic. They're giving you something to hold onto when the ground shifts. Jesus did that here. He didn't promise his disciples smooth sailing. He told them the truth — that they'd face rejection, confusion, grief — because he didn't want them blindsided and unmoored. He still does this. Scripture is full of honest warnings not to frighten us but to anchor us: you will have trouble in this world; not everyone will welcome what you believe; following me costs something. When those moments come — and they do come — you can remember that none of it caught Jesus off guard. He saw it coming and loved you anyway. That's not a small thing.