I remember reading in the Bible about the time Jesus was talking with His disciples just before He was to go to Jerusalem to be crucified. His conversation with the disciples troubled their hearts. Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him to the Pharisees and He would be killed. He also told Peter that He would deny knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. It was a heart wrenching night for the disciples. Here was there teacher whom they knew as the Messiah and He was saying that He was leaving them after 3 years or so. They had drawn close to Jesus. They had witnessed many miracles and they say many wonderful things during that time. Now their Master, Teacher, and Friend was leaving them and their hearts were troubled.
They were sad and their hearts were broken. Jesus knew their hearts were troubled and He knows when our hearts are troubled as well. He had some words for the disciples and those words are for us as well when our hearts feel overwhelmed with trouble. Those words are found in John 14:1-21 which says,
"1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
2 There 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?
3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am?
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.
11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.
14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.
20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
We believers in Jesus Christ have a wonderful living hope to look forward to. Jesus has gone one ahead of us to prepare a place in Heaven just for us. The Lord will come back one day a take us to be with Him forever. There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more death.
The Lord Jesus didn't leave us as orphans to fend for ourselves until He comes back to take us home. He gives the Holy Spirit to indwell everyone that has come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we will face difficulties here on earth and our hearts will experience horrible grief, but we won't ever have to face those things alone for the Holy Spirit will help us through those deep and dark valleys.
God is Mighty and He is our help in our time of need. The days are full of trouble and I am afraid that before everything is said and done there will be more troubles that will come to us. We must not lose heart and we must try not to be afraid. We must trust the Lord Jesus Christ each and everyday.
We need to be grounded in the truth of His Word, the Bible, so we won't be led away by the devil's lies and schemes. I pray that you would continue to trust the Lord Jesus and call out to Him when your heart feels troubled. I hope you remember the wonderful hope and promises that we have from God.
Lord,
Our hearts feel troubled by many things these days.
Thank You for being with us through those troubles.
We praise Your Name.
Comfort those troubled hearts.
Help us to honor You in all that we do.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.
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