Scripture
1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4
Observation
In the previous chapter Jesus had just told the disciples that Judas would betray Him and Peter would deny Him and that He would be leaving soon. No wonder this chapter picks up with the comforting words of their Savior, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” The word here means “to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind.” Jesus knew this feeling all too well. In fact this same word for trouble was just used to describe His emotions in John 11:33 when He saw Mary crying over the death of his friend Lazarus. What did Jesus do when His own heart was filled with dread and distress, anger, and anxiety? “Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me…” (Jn. 11:41-42). This is such a powerful and precious picture of the connection between Jesus the Son and God the Father. He talked to Him all the time and knew that even when everything seemed terrible God was trustworthy. Then, He resurrected Lazarus! Wow! How do we move from a troubled heart to a trusting heart? Look up! Speak up! Then, wait for God to show up! Notice He is telling the disciples to do the same thing here. When Jesus tells them to trust, it’s a present active imperative in the Greek- “keep on believing in God and in me.” It’s not just a one- time choice. It’s a choice to keep trusting in God over and over again, to keep talking to God all throughout the day. To know that even when they can’t see Him in front of them He is literally “at work” preparing a glorious future. Look Up! Speak Up! Wait for God to Show Up!
Application
I’ve read these verses so many times, but today they seemed to jump off the page. How many of us are feeling “troubled” right now? With rising COVID numbers, declining economy, rising suicide and substance abuse deaths, declining numbers in online, and in-person church attendance it’s no wonder that our hearts are troubled. How much do we need these verses right now? How do we move from troubled to trusting?
Look Up: Last week I was in the valley at the bottom of Smith Rock in Bend, OR. A grueling hike 3000 feet up and everything that seemed so big from the valley looked so small from the top. Then, as Aden and I flew home we were literally looking down on Smith Rock through the airplane window and what had seemed so big from the top of that rock now looked so small. This is the perspective Jesus was bringing to His disciples then and now. When we look up we receive His fresh perspective. Right now we are seeing the looming threats all around us. It’s being repeated in the 24/7 news cycle and though it's an insurmountable mountain to us, it’s a molehill to our God.
Speak Up: Just as Jesus spoke to His Father at the mouth of the tomb of His dead friend, we need to talk to Jesus today about everything that is troubling us. Is it that last argument with your spouse that you just can’t seem to get past? Speak up to the Lord about it. Is it the stress of trying to figure out how to coordinate your work schedules now that the kids aren’t allowed to go back to in-person learning? Speak up the Lord about it. “Keep on Believing” is impossible when we don’t keep on talking to the One who already has the solution to our problems.
Show Up: You’ve heard it said that 80% of success if showing up. God does the heavy lifting. All He needs us to do is show up and believe that He is at work even when we can’t see Him working. He preparing something for our future and will meet us in the present through the presence of the Holy Spirit. He just needs us to keep showing up. Keep showing up where you wake, work and worship and watch God show His power through You!
Prayer
Thank You Jesus for this word this morning. I really needed it and I know there are many this day who do! I look up to You instead of looking down at my news feed. I speak up to You and bring my concerns. I’m listening to what You are saying today. I’m showing up to all my meetings, all the unexpected problems, all the unforeseen challenges knowing that You have already prepared me for what’s ahead. I ask for a fresh outpouring of Holy Spirit this morning for You have everything I need. Even now I sense my heart moving from troubled to trusting as I fix my eyes on you.
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