July 2 I Thursday

Job 22-24

Acts 11

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”   —John 14:27

There are events in life that causes us to worry and panic, such as the COVID-19 outbreak that started in China last December and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization in just a little over three months. Each of us can identify moments when we are grappled with fear and troubled hearts.

Hours before Jesus went to the cross, His disciples were feeling anxious when Jesus shared what will eventually transpire. He told them, “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come” (John 13:33). Even though Jesus knew full well what would happen to Him, as He prepared His mind for that reality, He described to His disciples what was going on.

To offer His disciples comfort from what would transpire, Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me” (John 14:1). Jesus’s statement in the Greek is in the imperative form, which is spoken with force. We can translate it to English something along the lines of, “You can have confidence in Me just as you have confidence in the Father.” Jesus made this statement to a group of men who journeyed with Him in ministry for three years. All the anxiety that these disciples would naturally be feeling came to the surface. They were headed towards an uncertain future. The only thing they knew is that Jesus was about to be betrayed and He was going somewhere that they could not follow.

When we observe closely the statement that Jesus made—“You believe in God; believe also in Me”—we will realize its profoundness because Jesus equated Himself with God. Telling His disciples, “Just as you have confidence and security in knowing that God is watching over you, you can trust My words.”
In fact, Jesus displayed the ultimate trust, as He went to lay down His own life on a cross because He had full assurance that the Father was going to resurrect Him. Jesus Himself modelled the very trust that He was asking from His disciples.

We may currently be experiencing some anxiety and trouble in our life. Maybe a friend has betrayed us, just as a friend betrayed Jesus on that evening. Our life
may feel a little uncertain right now but in the quiet, may we hear the words of Jesus echo in our ears: “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in Me.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your words of comfort. My heart need not be troubled as I place my trust in You alone. Praise You!