Devotional: Don’t Be Troubled
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
-John 14:1-3
There are 4 takeaways from this conversation Jesus was having with His original disciples--- don't be troubled; believe in Jesus; He's preparing a place for us; He is coming for us.
“Don’t be troubled”
He was troubled so we don’t have to be.
The same Greek word for “troubled” (tarasso) is used in John 13:21. It says, “After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” Tarasso means “to cause one inward commotion; take away his calmness of mind.” This is the same scene (the Last Supper) as John 14. Jesus faced betrayal from one of His twelve disciples. He faces betrayal daily from present-day followers. But, we don’t have to be troubled because we KNOW that He will never betray us. We KNOW that He keeps His promises and will come back for us. 2 Timothy 2:13 says that even “if we are faithless, he remains faithful.”
We see innumerable evils in this world, from natural disasters to behind-the-scenes dark secrets of “reputable” people to outright violence and hate. On top of that, there are the daily personal struggles we all face. It’s overwhelming and it can certainly trouble our hearts. Jesus doesn’t make a promise that life will be easy-going and smooth-sailing, but He does promise that He has overcome the sin of this world. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” So, even in the pain and hurt, we can have peace because He will take care of it when He returns.
2. “Believe in God; believe also in Me”
Following His statement to not be troubled, He says to believe in God and believe in Him. Belief is powerful, but it is difficult. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Belief is difficult because we cannot see it, but the only way to not be troubled is to cling to our faith in God. Trust that Jesus will make all things right. Jesus told doubting Thomas, “Blessed are those who do not see yet believe.”
3. “I go to prepare a place for you”
What is our hope and faith in? Jesus told His disciples to believe in Him and then explained what they can hope for. He assured them that He is preparing a spot in heaven for them. His discussion wasn’t exclusive; it applies to us– His present-day believers. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 says that “we will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” Disciples of Jesus have been waiting for this moment from the beginning– to be rescued from this present evil age and to be with Him. We want to be with Him because with Him, no harm will befall us, all tears will be wiped away, all joy will be restored, and peace beyond imagination will enwrap us.
4. “I will come again”
Jesus' first advent was exactly what it is– His first. Because we know that He is a promise-keeper, He will fulfill His promise of a second and final advent where He will rescue His people and judge sin. Hebrews 9:28 says, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” On that day, “He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him” (Revelation 1:7). No one will be able to escape the knowledge of His sovereignty and power.
Take a Moment:
What currently troubles your heart?
Are you eagerly waiting for Him or are you clinging to this world for hope?
Do you believe in Jesus’ promise? What might cause you to doubt?
Believing that Jesus is coming back for you is what it means to live by faith.
-Alina