Week 45: Troubled
Weekly Chapters:
John 12-Acts 7
Passage of the Week:
John 14:1
Adjective:
Worried or anxious
Having a lot of problems
Thesaurus:
Agitated
Anxious
Bothered
Disturbed
Distressed
Irritated
Plagued
Tormented
Father God,
Help me understand what You want me to see this week. Give me the guidance to understand Your word and Your message to me this week.
Amen
Authentic vulnerability:
I often feel troubled, a bit stressed. Sometimes worry takes over when I know that I should trust that I will be OK. I find myself sometimes troubled over nothing – just an unsettled feeling that I cannot attribute anything to. I just “know” something is not right somewhere. I start looking for challenges, looking for problems. Not to solve, just to rationalize my troubled mind that it is troubled for a reason.
What is your Authentic Truth?
Study:
In His last days, Jesus felt troubled as there were distressing events in His future that must come to pass according to prophecy.
In John 13:18-30, Jesus predicts the betrayal by Judas, who would turn on Jesus and turn him over for persecution. The betrayal of a friend or loved one is so troubling to one’s heart and spirit. While no one expects it, it is less so by a friend or family member.
Then again, in John 13:31-38, Jesus predicts that Peter too will betray him by denying knowing him three times before the crow of the rooster.
Jesus tells His disciples in John 14:1 to “not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and also trust in me” (NLT). It is not God’s design for our hearts to be troubled. We can see that God recognizes the state of being troubled, He demonstrates it in His Son, and He tells us how to combat it, to trust in God.
In Proverbs 3:5, Solomon says to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart: do not depend on your own understanding” (NLT).
And in Isaiah 26:3, “you keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because He trusts in you.” And also, in Proverbs 29:25, “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.”
God’s design for our life is of peace and trust in him. We know we live in a troubled world. God does not promise that we will not see trouble, but our lives will contain peace if we turn from it and trust in Him. God’s design is that we will find peace in him (Psalms 23:2).
So when we are feeling troubled or anxious, turning to God and seeking His peace will help put our soul at ease.
Father God,
Thank You for sending your son to release us from our sins. Thank You for bringing Your Holy Spirit to be with us on earth. Thank You for guiding us in a way that helps to relieve the trouble. Your grace is sufficient for me.
Amen.
Homework:
Write down what is troubling you this week.
Pray for each item, ask God to help you release it to Him.
