New Experiences

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

John 14:1

Have you even been to a foreign country? Or maybe some place that seemed foreign to you – where their culture, their people, their customs are all different than what you are used to? These situations typically bring excitement or anxiety. Excitement comes from the adventure, the learning of new things, the new experiences. For some people, those same things bring in anxiety. Troubled hearts and fear take over.

            When my family first moved to South Carolina it was like moving to a foreign country…or so I thought. People in South Carolina were much nicer than I remembered after living just outside St. Louis for most of my life. People drove slower and stores were closed on Sunday mornings. Camo was a primary color and work boots were daily wear. I was not ready for all of that, and some of it really stressed me out. When my family arrived in Japan the anxiety was compounded. Now the language was different and we didn’t fit in. Not only did they drive slower than people in South Carolina, they drove on the wrong side of the road! You cannot imagine the stress you feel the first time you drive on the opposite side of the road.

            In John 13, Jesus washes the disciples feet and then institutes the Lord’s Supper. During that meal, Jesus tells his disciples that one of them was going to betray him and he even tells Peter that he would deny even knowing Jesus. These words from John 14 follow up those conversations: “Let not your hearts be troubled” It is so easy to allow our hearts to be troubled when things are out of our control, when things are happening that we simply do not understand. When our friends get sick or a family member dies. When we get laid off and simply do not know how we are going to make ends meet. The stress of life, the troubled heart, takes over our lives.

            Jesus gives us the remedy to this. He doesn’t simply say to stop it, but he tells us to believe in God and Jesus. Jesus tells us to have faith. No matter how difficult things are, we trust that God is who he says that he is. We trust that Jesus is who he says that he is. God is ever present, never changing, and loving. Jesus is our way maker, miracle worker, and promise keeper. Are you feeling overwhelmed today? Is your heart troubled? Remind yourself that God is still God, and that Jesus is still Jesus. When we’re confused, they’re still on the throne. 

Pray:

·      That we would remember who God is

·      For encouragement in our troubled hearts

·      For a person that we may be able to encourage in the Lord today

Further reading:

·      John 13-14

Worship:

·      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJCV_2H9xD0