John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”

I started to say that this is very timely advice for this day and age, but then I realized that this has been true in every age. Circumstances will always push us toward anxiety if we fail to have our hearts firmly grounded in Christ. There is certainly a great deal in the world today to get any thinking person upset. That’s why this verse is all the more vital today. The Japanese for this verse agrees with the majority of English translations in saying “Believe in God; believe also in me.” However, I rather like the NIV’s use of “trust.” Sometimes we think of “believing” as simply agreeing to a set of facts, but this is far deeper and more practical, more active than that. I’m reminded of the story, over 100 years old now, of the French tightrope walker Charles Blondin at Niagara Falls. After crossing repeatedly, and even pushing a wheelbarrow across, he asked his audience if they believed he could do it with a person in the wheelbarrow. They enthusiastically said “yes,” until he asked for a volunteer to ride the wheelbarrow! As I remember the story, he did succeed, but that rider was demonstrating the kind of faith Jesus is talking about here. If we are mistrustful, we will flail around in the wheelbarrow!

This is something I have known for a long time, yet I continue to need refreshers, and God is faithful to provide them. Sometimes the things that upset me are national or global, such at the current political situation. Sometimes they are closer to home, such as computer problems. Sometimes they very close to me, yet much broader, such as church problems. Whatever they might be, Jesus’ words are true: “Do not let your heart be troubled.” It is in trusting in and for specific things and situations that my faith grows, not only for those things but in general. I am not to berate myself for my lack of faith, but neither am I to be satisfied with it. What Jesus is presenting here is a choice, and I need to make it consistently, to trust God rather than allowing my heart to be troubled.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the good day yesterday, and also for pointing out how an ultimately insignificant thing can rob me of joy. Thank You for Your anointing in the message, and for the good feedback I was feeling as I delivered it. Thank You that the new computer performed well in making the CDs of the service. Thank You for what You have planned for the day today. Help me rest, relax, and rejoice in You throughout this day, trusting You indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!