“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1, NIV84)
“Health” magazine from Canada gave me a good laugh. It relayed this joke:
Q. What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
A. A nervous wreck.
I know, it’s juvenile! I know, the joke may cause you to roll your eyes! As I read these words, it struck me that many people today are nervous wrecks. Our world has been turned upside down. COVID lockdowns have forced people to remain inside. Public restrictions have not permitted some families to go to funerals of loved ones. Business rules today often require visitors to wear masks. Many churches in the world are required to keep attendance below twenty-five percent of seated capacity due to government regulations. There is a change in the government of America. There are shortages of supplies. More than fifty percent of Americans believe a civil war is looming. The dark days of winter are upon us, making the average length of sunshine each day in the northern hemisphere the shortest of all the year. I could go on and on. There are many reasons for the average person to become a nervous wreck.
Those who have a strong relationship with God need to hear the scripture for today. It speaks to these times. It speaks to situations where things are turned upside down or dangers abound. It speaks to turbulent times and periods of change. Jesus spoke the words found in John 14:1. Not long before He died, Jesus encouraged His followers to remember to “not let their hearts be troubled”. The Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus. Many doubted His miracles. Herod had already tried to kill Him (Matthew 2). Jewish authorities sought to silence Jesus. Satan toyed with Him (Matthew 4). Despite all these heavy issues and problems that threatened His soul, Jesus did not want His followers to be handicapped and traumatized by fear. He did not want their hearts troubled, their every minute fixated with anxieties.
According to a study mentioned on sermonillustrations.com, an average person’s anxiety is focused on….
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can't be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
(source: www.sermonillustrations.com)
Jesus dealt with His own anxieties by leaning on God the Father. That is why in the scripture for today, Jesus asked His followers to counter their anxiety by “trusting in God” and “trusting in Him” (John 14:1). If you fully trust that God has your back, you have no need to be paralyzed by fear or to worry about all the things that can go wrong tomorrow. Will God not be there tomorrow? Is God not strong enough to take care of you no matter what happens?
A miserable looking woman recognized F. B. Meyer on the train and ventured to share her burden with him. For years she had cared for a crippled daughter who brought great joy to her life. She made tea for her each morning, then left for work, knowing that in the evening the daughter would be there when she arrived home. But the daughter had died, and the grieving mother was alone and miserable. Home was not “home” anymore.
Meyer gave her wise counsel. “When you get home and put the key in the door,” he said, “say aloud, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!’ and be ready to greet Him directly when you open the door. And as you light the fire tell Him what has happened during the day; if anybody has been kind, tell Him; if anybody has been unkind, tell Him, just as you would have told your daughter. At night stretch out your hand in the darkness and say, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!’”
Some months later, Meyer was back in that neighborhood and met the woman again, but he did not recognize her. Her face radiated joy instead of announcing misery. “I did as you told me,” she said, “and it has made all the difference in my life, and now I feel I know Him.” (Warren Wiersbe, The Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 194)
In the next few months, focus your efforts on trusting God. Don’t let the craziness of this world capture your soul. You might be surprised how your trust in God will lighten the load, ease the pressure, release the stress, and bring joy to your day. Why don’t you start with a prayer promising to trust God above all else?
Q. What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
A. A nervous wreck.
I know, it’s juvenile! I know, the joke may cause you to roll your eyes! As I read these words, it struck me that many people today are nervous wrecks. Our world has been turned upside down. COVID lockdowns have forced people to remain inside. Public restrictions have not permitted some families to go to funerals of loved ones. Business rules today often require visitors to wear masks. Many churches in the world are required to keep attendance below twenty-five percent of seated capacity due to government regulations. There is a change in the government of America. There are shortages of supplies. More than fifty percent of Americans believe a civil war is looming. The dark days of winter are upon us, making the average length of sunshine each day in the northern hemisphere the shortest of all the year. I could go on and on. There are many reasons for the average person to become a nervous wreck.
Those who have a strong relationship with God need to hear the scripture for today. It speaks to these times. It speaks to situations where things are turned upside down or dangers abound. It speaks to turbulent times and periods of change. Jesus spoke the words found in John 14:1. Not long before He died, Jesus encouraged His followers to remember to “not let their hearts be troubled”. The Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus. Many doubted His miracles. Herod had already tried to kill Him (Matthew 2). Jewish authorities sought to silence Jesus. Satan toyed with Him (Matthew 4). Despite all these heavy issues and problems that threatened His soul, Jesus did not want His followers to be handicapped and traumatized by fear. He did not want their hearts troubled, their every minute fixated with anxieties.
According to a study mentioned on sermonillustrations.com, an average person’s anxiety is focused on….
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can't be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
(source: www.sermonillustrations.com)
Jesus dealt with His own anxieties by leaning on God the Father. That is why in the scripture for today, Jesus asked His followers to counter their anxiety by “trusting in God” and “trusting in Him” (John 14:1). If you fully trust that God has your back, you have no need to be paralyzed by fear or to worry about all the things that can go wrong tomorrow. Will God not be there tomorrow? Is God not strong enough to take care of you no matter what happens?
A miserable looking woman recognized F. B. Meyer on the train and ventured to share her burden with him. For years she had cared for a crippled daughter who brought great joy to her life. She made tea for her each morning, then left for work, knowing that in the evening the daughter would be there when she arrived home. But the daughter had died, and the grieving mother was alone and miserable. Home was not “home” anymore.
Meyer gave her wise counsel. “When you get home and put the key in the door,” he said, “say aloud, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!’ and be ready to greet Him directly when you open the door. And as you light the fire tell Him what has happened during the day; if anybody has been kind, tell Him; if anybody has been unkind, tell Him, just as you would have told your daughter. At night stretch out your hand in the darkness and say, ‘Jesus, I know You are here!’”
Some months later, Meyer was back in that neighborhood and met the woman again, but he did not recognize her. Her face radiated joy instead of announcing misery. “I did as you told me,” she said, “and it has made all the difference in my life, and now I feel I know Him.” (Warren Wiersbe, The Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 194)
In the next few months, focus your efforts on trusting God. Don’t let the craziness of this world capture your soul. You might be surprised how your trust in God will lighten the load, ease the pressure, release the stress, and bring joy to your day. Why don’t you start with a prayer promising to trust God above all else?