February 13, 2006

 

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. … I am the way, the truth, and the life No one comes to the Father except through Me. …

 

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world give do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. --John 14:1-6, 25-27

 

If I were to ask you to take a piece of paper and write down the things that cause you to fear, would you have a large solicitation of answers when you finished? Perhaps you’re afraid of loneliness, bad health, financial insecurity, marital problems, and so on. Primarily, all of our fears are wrapped up into one — fear of the future. Fear of what’s next and what if — things we really can’t control.

 

We play the worry game from time to time, wondering what’s going to happen next. How do you face your future? Do you call up the psychic hotline to find out what will happen tomorrow? Do you read your horoscope? I sure hope not! These are all phony compared to the promise Jesus gave us in His Word.

 

The disciples were indeed troubled about the future. They had anticipated that Jesus would be a superhero Messiah who would overthrow the yoke of physical and military bondage of the Romans. But in the upper room during the last supper, they realized that Jesus was facing death on the cross. And even though Christ Himself was troubled in spirit, knowing what He was about to face, He took time to minister grace and compassion to His disturbed disciples.

 

We want to be strong in fear and we find that we’re weak. We want to be successful when planning for the future, but we oftentimes fail. The stress rises, the fear moves in, the pressure bears down, and the heat is on. If you’re disturbed today, Jesus promises peace in the midst of pressure. If you are brokenhearted, confused, agitated, anxious, worried, and fearful, then place your troubled heart in His hands. If you trust Him, He will comfort you.

 

DON’T LET YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED BECAUSE JESUS PROMISES PEACE AND YOUR FUTURE IS IN HIS HANDS.