Grasping for Straws
Today’s Verse:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ~John 14:1
Several years ago, I received a phone call from someone I know that a loved one of theirs passed away unexpectedly. I was in shock and speechless as this dear person wept and grieved on the phone. There is a sadness, grief, hollowness, and inadequacy that I feel at this moment. Words are insufficient to replace the loss this person just experienced. My acquaintance is grasping for straws as they cope with this sudden situation. It is times like these that the words of the Lord Jesus are fitting, comforting and helpful.
There is the nakedness in trouble.
Trouble is a circumstance that causes us heartache, stress, anxiety and fear. It comes in many shapes and sizes. Trouble can redefine our life. Job said, “man born of woman his days are few and full of trouble.” Trouble exposes our hearts. Trouble shows us how vulnerable, helpless, and weak we are. Trouble reveals to us that we are not as strong as we thought we were. It shows us how naked, uncovered, and unprepared we are in our time of difficulty. The disciples of Jesus were saddened by his sobering reminder that he would suffer and die on the cross for our sins. They were deeply troubled as he spoke about going away to his Father in heaven. There are the “why’s”, the “what”, and the “if’s” when trouble comes into our life.
There is the nearness in trouble.
We need someone we can be close to when we have trouble. We need someone we can place our head upon. We need someone who will hear us out. Jesus is that person! He said, “Let not your heart be troubled!” He always has the right words for us. He is there when we need Him most. He holds us when we shake uncontrollably. He wipes our tears away and composes us. He is there for us in our fears. He is there for us in our frustration. He is there for us for our future. His nearness bolsters us. His nearness blesses us. His nearness is a balm for us. Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side!
There is the necessity in trouble.
“Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Trouble places our backs against the wall. It is at this critical moment we must have absolute faith in God. In every storm have faith in God! In every calamity have faith in God! In every reversal have faith in God! Have faith in His salvation. If you are not saved, you must believe in the Lord Jesus with all your heart that He died for your sins and rose again from the dead. Have faith in his solution. The Lord has a reason and a direction for us in trouble. Have faith in His sufficiency. He alone can take care of us. He alone gives us enough grace. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He enables our inner man to be renewed. He gives us hope where we feel like there is no hope. Have faith in God!
If perhaps you are facing trouble today, hold to God’s unchanging hand. Give all your fears, concerns, and burdens to the God of Heaven. As big as our troubles are, they are not bigger than God. As you are grasping for straws, hold on to God!
Have a comforted God morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Mark 14