Worried, Anxious, and Troubled

Abel Hernandez

As I opened the scriptures this morning and contemplated what to read, I came across John 14. It’s powerful in the sense that from the very beginning, Jesus tells His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled and to believe in God and also in Him.
How often do we walk around life just troubled from so many things? The world is full of external things and ideas that can stir up fear, worry, and anxieties. But why does this happen to us? In some cases, it’s due to traumatic events or situations. Lots of times, we get our eyes fixed on other things that are irrelevant and lose sight of who Jesus is. For some of us, these anxieties can grow so much that we even fear death itself.

Jesus reminds His disciples that in His Father’s house there are many rooms. And that He will prepare a place for them and eventually come and take them to himself. This is comforting to his disciples because I’m certain they felt targeted or looked at different in a world full of chaos. This comfort He gives them is the hope of heaven. A place where there is no pain and no suffering.

For us this is comforting as well. Our lives do not end here. We were created to be something more than simply walk around life full of anxiety and worry. We can have hope that we to have a place to go. That we will be with our Creator. But what happens when tragedy hits or doubt creeps in, we forget. This happens often

Thomas himself doubted. It’s as if he wanted a for sure answer and way to get to this place. Jesus reminded His disciples that they knew the way to get there. That He was the way, the truth, and the life, and He was one with the Father.

We know the Father in Jesus. Jesus came to give us life. He came to remind us that we don’t need to worry about things we have no control over. This world and life will continue to happen. That doesn’t mean that this world is now void of God. In fact, we can be sure that God is always with us. We have direct access to God in prayer. Jesus said that whatever we ask in the His name, this He will do, that the Father may be glorified. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Now I want to be careful here and remind us that what we may want, may not always look like we expect. God has shown us over and over and that He has a plan. In the middle of pain, struggle, worry, God still is working to help us grow and mature as Christians.

When Phillip said to Jesus, show us the Father, and it is enough for us. Jesus affirmed that they had indeed seen the Father in Him. So, what can we take away from this… The Father is enough for us. Jesus is enough and we are in no need of other worldly desires to fill our hearts. We need to strive on even when our heads and hearts are troubled. No matter the pain we go through, may we see straight through to our Lord who gave us peace. Who gave us His comforter to help guide and teach us. Jesus left us His peace and reminded His disciples that the peace He gave them was not of this world. May we also know that the peace Jesus gives us daily is from above and not from this world.

So, brothers and sisters in Christ. When the troubles of this world hit home, when the anxiety is through the roof, when you see pain and hurt, may we focus our eyes back on Him. May we find comfort and peace in Jesus. May we know that we are His children and we will not be abandoned. There is a place to come and that place is so much grander than anything else here on earth. Amen

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.[d] From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me[e] anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14 1:13