The Tough Part is Over

 

John 14:1(NLT)
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”

Jesus Christ spoke the words of John 14:1 to comfort his disciples and boy did they need comforting. His ministry on earth was coming to a close, and they were living in truly perilous times. It was a hostile environment no matter how you slice it. Tensions were at a boiling point because people in high places were vehemently against Jesus Christ and those who followed him. The disciples understood that things were bad, but it wasn’t just that. The One that had taught them, protected them, fed them, cried and laughed with them, was going away and told them so. They were heartbroken, sad, and afraid, but Jesus Christ gave them a remedy to all of that, and this remedy is to trust in him. 

In our modern world, we trust many things, and do so without thought. With road-rage and the crazy driving of some people, we literally take our lives into our own hands driving from point A to point B. Yet, we effortlessly trust our cars, the roads, ourselves, and other people, and we put our cars on the road each day without hesitation. We trust the technology of our cell phones, and never hesitate to use them even though we don’t have a clue about how they work. We trust the direct deposit of our paychecks in our bank accounts. Even though we have nothing more than a piece of paper, and the money is never placed in our hands, we trust that our paycheck will be in the bank when we need it. On an average day, the things that are in place and working behind the scenes to aid our daily routines are innumerable. We trust all of them automatically and never doubt to any significant degree that our daily routines will not go off without a hitch. 

In the natural realm, we trust in what we cannot see. We couldn’t do anything from day to day without that trust, yet when it comes to the supernatural power of our Creator and the Son He sent to save us, many of us have thrown trust to the wind. That isn’t going to bring us the peace that God promises in His Word. We must make a change in our way of thinking.

In John 14:2(NLT), Jesus told the disciples, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” Our precious Savior is pointing the disciples and us in the direction of heaven because this is the place where we should anchor our hopes. Jesus is reminding us that when we give our lives to him, we are forever in his care. He didn’t want the disciples to become overwhelmed by the reality of him returning to his Father’s throne. He wanted them and he wants us to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, and to keep our eyes continually focused on God and the glory He has planned for us. 

Life can be tough. It can be far more challenging than any of us ever imagined. The lows are sometimes gut wrenching and devastating, but we are not in this alone. Our Heavenly Father is with us every step of the way, and He invites us to lean on Him. Philippians 4:13 declares that we can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives us strength. We can heal, be better, and be stronger through him. So, our prayers should be about increasing our faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ, because He is committed to helping us. The traumas and heartache we experience sometimes leave us feeling shaky, like there’s nothing holding us together or keeping us from sinking further into an abyss of sadness. More than any other, these are the times we should rest in Jesus Christ, because he’s the One holding us together. He’s our strength and he will never disappoint us.

We must recognize that trying to live without the power, strength, and love of Jesus Christ is the tough part of life. Once we accept him as our Lord and Savior, the tough part is over because the Spirit of Christ lives inside us. He told the disciples in John 14:26-27(NLT), “26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Jesus Christ is our Rock of Salvation. He’s our stability, and our everything. He has given us the gift of the precious Holy Spirit, and the Spirit will guide, teach, and remind us of the Words of Christ. Through our blessed Lord, we are not weak; we have power! It is true that we don’t always act as though we belong to God. We may not even feel like we belong to Him, but this doesn’t change the reality and truth that we’re His. God loves us, and He never intended our lives to be hard. He wants us to live life through His love, and we can do this if we surrender our cares and trust Him with all that we are.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“The Tough Part is Over”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2023. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.