Read John 14
Without doing an actual count, it appears that ANXIETY is the most used word during the first five months of 2020 in articles related to mental health during COVID-19 as people struggle to come to grips with chaotic lives, health issues, working at home, educating their children, separation from friends and loved ones, and financial disaster. So many things to be troubled about! To many, the whole situation is simply overwhelming. No wonder stress levels are elevated and people are writing and reading about anxiety daily.
But does anxiety have to reign in our lives?
Anxiety can be defined in simple terms like “worry which causes distress” or “the opposite of or significant lack of peace.” Anxiety is not a state of mind most of us would choose consciously. Certainly not! Then if not, it is time to make the deliberate choice of peace in its place.
In His farewell sermon to His disciples, just after telling them how He would suffer and how He would be betrayed and denied by those closest to Him, Jesus discussed with them the great blessing He was leaving with them (and us!) when He returned to His Father. He comforted them by telling them He would leave them His peace. He said it was HIS peace He was leaving them, not the world’s peace, but HIS peace. His peace would comfort their souls and would last forever. His peace was not temporal like the world’s peace. He gave it. They only needed to receive.
After telling them of the great blessing He would leave with them, He gave them a command, “DO NOT LET your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:27) He knew they would be facing overwhelming grief, confusion, and fear when they witnessed His death on the cross, so He told them what to do about it. They had a choice: They could receive His peace and keep their hearts and minds calm and quiet or they could let anxiety, fear, dismay, and doubt consume them.
This command in verse 27 was a repeat of what He had said at the beginning of His message (John 14:1). At that time, however, He gave them the answer to how they could do this — how they could keep their hearts from being troubled or afraid. And what was that? Believe! (John 14:1) Simply believe in God the Father and Jesus the Son.
Jesus laid out such hope for them (and for us!). He was leaving to go to prepare a place of them (and us!). (John 14:2) They would only have to deal with the troubles of this world for so long because He would come back and take them (and us!) to the place He was going to prepare. (John 14:3)
Sounds like a rather good deal to me! Jesus left us His peace, and He is making a better place for us. Let us choose peace!
Father, thank You that Jesus left His peace for us while we are in the world but not of the world. Thank You that, along with His peace, He also left us with a blessed hope and promise for a better life eternally with Him and with the Father. Help us to receive gladly this peace, this hope, and this promise as we wait expectantly for His coming. In the Name of Jesus, Amen!