#TuesdayTruth John 14: 1-4

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Trouble. Sometimes it feels as though we are overwhelmed with trouble. Sometimes it feels like it is just one thing after another, after another. Sometimes it feels as though we have reached that point (some would call it a breaking point; some would call it the last straw). Sometimes it feels like trouble follows us.

The words in this passage were spoken by Jesus to his disciples. Just before this, He had just washed their feet, predicted that one of his disciples will be betray him and another will deny even knowing him. So, it’s easy to see that Jesus also knew earthly troubles.

However, He then commands his disciples to not let their hearts be troubled. I don’t know about you, but sometimes this is much easier said than done for me. Instead of fretting about what might happen (the “what if”s), He tells them to “trust in God”- to trust that His perspective is better than mine, that His ways are higher and that His plan for my life is better. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt when we are in it. Oh, how it can hurt, but despite the pain, we TRUST Him. Thank goodness for His example of how to focus on the “eternal picture,” and not the earthly/temporary picture.

Then, comes one of the best things I have heard (and something I hold close to my heart when I get down)- the Father’s house has many rooms, and He is going to prepare a place for his followers to be with Him for all eternity. There is NO trouble there- no pain, no fear, no worry, no anxiety, no sadness, no more tears- NONE. This is the “eternal picture.”

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving us the perfect example of how to live this life, here on this earth, while not allowing our hearts to be troubled. Thank you for going ahead to prepare a place for us. Thank you that no matter what trouble we face here on earth, no matter our situation or circumstances, that we can be assured of your goodness and that, at the end of it all, we get to spend eternity with you because of your Son’s sacrifice. Thank you for the the “eternal picture.”

We love you, Father. Amen.