Last month in Romania, I was reading through John and the Lord highlighted a verse in the fourteenth chapter. The first first actually.
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” John 14:1 NLT
I think He stopped me because my heart was troubled. It was troubled because – between a hospital visit, moving between teams to do ministry with, staying back from ministry to do work for Squad Leading or to take care of myself or others who were sick – between all those things I wasn’t able to find any rhythm or consistency of ministry. My heart was troubled because I was tired of being cold and wet all the time. My heart was troubled because I couldn’t always see what it was I even had to offer this squad of incredible humans. My heart was troubled last month.
Yet, Jesus says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” Not, “Try not to let your hearts be troubled.” “Pray that your hearts won’t be troubled.” No, he issues it as a directive. He places the power in our hands. “You. Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
Which must mean, somehow, we can bring this about.
But how?
“Trust in God, and trust also in me.”
The degree to which we experience peace in our hearts is dependent on the amount of trust we have in the character of God.
When you place trust in someone, God or human, you are really saying, “I trust in the character you have. I trust you to be faithful with the hope or expectation I am placing in your hands.”
For trust to be well placed, there must be high character. So how do we know the character of God? How do we know if we can trust in Him? Well thankfully, we have the Bible, the very word of God himself, to discover His character.
One of my favorite passages is in Matthew 6, where Jesus is teaching the people not to worry. And what reason does He offer them to convince them their worry is misplaced?
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:26 NLT (emphasis mine)
We have a God, a Father, who values us deeply. Who loves us so much, he sent His only Son to die while we were still sinners. When we could offer nothing to Him, God still chose to draw us to himself because of His love for us.
I read something from John Piper recently in an Advent devotional called “Good News of Great Joy.” In it, he talks about a verse in John 17.
Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!” John 17:24 NLT
So why does Jesus want us with Him? So we “can see all the glory you (God) gave me…”
Jesus wants us with Him not for His own desire, but for the longing in our hearts. The longing of our hearts to experience the one thing we were made for. And He wants it because He loves us. I can trust in love like His. I can trust in that part of His character.
Yet sometimes I don’t, or else I would not have a troubled heart. I would know my circumstances, however frustrating or bleak, mean nothing to the God who knows the plans He has for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and works all things together for my good (Romans 8:28).
When my living situation is harder than I would like, just as it is this month, and I don’t have running water, an indoor toilet, or access to WiFi closer than an hour and a half.
When I am not sure what it is I have to offer the team I am with.
Even then, I would be able to look at all around and within me and say, “I am part of a grand design, a plan so intricate and beautiful I could never comprehend it. Whatever is happening now, I know everything will ultimately work out for my good as it plays into this plan of the Lord’s. And I know this because my God is faithful to keep His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).”
I’ve encountered struggle and hardship in these two and a half months back on the field. But I can still experience the peace of God. As I continue to grow in my trust of who God is, I experience more peace than I have before.
Every new circumstance is a test to the faith and trust I have, but I take the test gladly because the Lord will always prove Himself worthy of the trust I give Him.
Is your heart troubled today? If so, what piece of God’s character do you not fully trust in? What is keeping you from extending your trust to Him? My encouragement is to identify those things for yourself and then surrender them to the Lord.
“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.” Isaiah 28:16 NLT
