Trust in Jesus
Scripture Reading — John 14:1-4
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1
We don't have to look far to find trouble. It seems to be everywhere. People are dying in the Darfur region of Sudan. Sectarian violence continues in Iraq. Hurricanes and typhoons swallow up villages and cities alike. Developing nations lust for nuclear weapons.
Jesus speaks to the trouble inside our hearts and outside our door. He whispers to us and asks us to trust him. The only way to live with hope in a troubled world is to trust Jesus.
When Jesus said these words, he knew he was in trouble. He would soon be betrayed to local leaders who wanted to kill him (see John 13:27-30; 18:1-5). Jesus also knew that his disciples would be deeply troubled because of his death. So he wanted to give them a deep peace that would not be dictated by outside forces. An old catechism encourages us to "be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future ... have good confidence in our faithful God and Father" (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 28).
God is in control! "Trust in God" is Jesus' calm assurance in a troubled world. We can truly trust Jesus' words. And they are laced with his promise for the world today and the world to come: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
<p>Dear Jesus, stay with us so that our hearts will not be troubled. Increase our trust in you and in your Word. Give us patience in hard times and gratitude when things go well. Amen.</p>
About the author — Reginald Smith
Dr. Reginald Smith is senior pastor at Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for seventeen years. He has also served as a pastor in Paterson, New Jersey. He and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, Janelle, Katrina, and Mariah.
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