Faith and Choices

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. John 14:1 NLT.

Choices: we love them and we hate them. It all depends on what they are, right? I finished this blog about an hour ago–but for some reason it didn’t save. So here I am choosing to re-write it. My choice! But my choice is to do it with joy and peace, or with anger and frustration. I admit I was troubled! I took a break when I realized I hadn’t saved it. I reacted with frustration and disappointment. I had to rearrange my schedule. As I walked into the grocery store, I began to smile and laugh at myself! Here I had just read, studied and prayed about not allowing our heart choose trouble and hear I was reacting with frustration.

In order to really understand this scripture, we must back up and see what caused Jesus to tell His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled. In John 13, we find the disciples celebrating the Passover as every good Jew was doing. While Jesus was washing their feet we find the first clue that could cause their hearts to be troubled. A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you. (John 13:10). Not all of you are clean.

What do you think they were thinking? What does He mean by that. It became even more ominous when He said: I will tell you the truth, one of you will betray me! I am sure they were confused and concerned, as they asked “who is He talking about?” Then after, Judas slipped away, Jesus said even more troubling things. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but your can’t come where I am going. These faithful disciples had been with Jesus for three years. Traveling together, learning from Him, feeling safe with His wisdom and instruction. Now He tells them they can’t go with Him. Our dear brother Peter, wasn’t having it. But why can’t I come now, Lord? he asking, “I’m ready to die for you”. Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me. More confusion, more troubling thoughts–especially for Peter must have come flowing in. Then Jesus spoke these amazing comforting words: Don’t let your hearts be troubled. John 14:1.

Bad news brings choices. Are we going to go to fear and anxiety, or run to Jesus and let His comfort presence and comforting words calm our hearts. His next words: Trust in God, and trust also in me.” Every difficult challenges brings opportunity to trust or doubt. The smaller ones are the same, but sometimes we by pass their importance. It was really a small thing that I did not notice my blog was saved. I was troubled for a bit, but then remembered the Greek definition of trouble: tarasso which means to stir or agitate (roil water). Was I going to stir the pot with my thoughts, or simply trust Him. So often we go to the worse case scenario–which usually doesn’t happen and make the concerns bigger than they are. If we continue to let the pot boil, it may boil over and others can be hurt by it. Let’s practice turning down the heat and letting the peace of God rule in our hearts, it is the mature thing to do! If you catch yourself with boiling water thoughts, go back to Him. Forgive yourself and make the choice to trust Him and His ways, especially for things we can’t change.

Father, I thank you for teaching us the right way to make the choice not to let our hearts be troubled. Thank you for understanding us and our tendency to make poor choices. I am so grateful you that we can make better ones when our hearts are not troubled. In Jesus’ Name, amen.