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God, our Heavenly Father, does not promise His children a trouble-free life.  Every believer has, at one time of another, been put through trials such as rejection, failure, difficult relationships, losses, family problems, even the death of a loved one.

Jesus warned His disciples to expect tribulation:  “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (Jn. 16: 33).  “It has been the lot of Christ’s disciples to have more or less tribulation in this world.  Men persecute them because they are so good, and God corrects them because they are no better.  Men design to cut them off from the earth, and God designs by affliction to make them meet for heaven; and so between both they shall have tribulation” – Matthew Henry.

The Bible gives many accounts of God’s people in affliction.  The patriarch Job, known proverbially for his patience, had everything taken from him.  He lost his children, property, cattle and subsequently, his health.  Covered from head to toe with boils and blisters, he lamented his day of birth and wished for death.  Taunted by his wife, misunderstood by his friends, the suffering saint never wavered in his faith but continued to trust in his God:  “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him” (Job 13: 15).

Many of God’s servants also had to face life’s adversities.  Those specially called of God to serve Him, like Moses, Elijah and Jeremiah, had their struggles as they faced seemingly insurmountable odds.

The cares of our daily lives can sometimes try us sore and threaten to overwhelm us.  Where then can we find rest and peace?

True rest cannot be found in the world or its religions.  Earthly friends, entertainment, or our pursuit of knowledge and ambition, may distract us for a while, but they will never bring us lasting comfort or peace.  Commenting on the great work of the world’s eminent scientists, one writer has this to say, “During the last fifteen years I have read many of their books.  I honour them, and the service they have wrought; but I have missed one note in them all – the note  of  comfort.”    How true it is that the world’s wisdom can teach us many things, but it can never point us the way to a quiet and restful heart.  It offers no help in the day of affliction when our spirits are tried and our hearts are troubled beyond measure. 

Many in the world are willing to pay a high price for peace in their hearts but they can never find true peace.  As God’s children, we have divine resources that the world cannot use or even understand.  Quiet rest, especially in the midst of life’s struggles and testings, can only be found in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Look at the invitation of our blessed Saviour in John 14: 1: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”  Jesus was comforting His despondent disciples over His impending death.  The word, “troubled” used here by Jesus, does not mean any kind of sadness or sorrow; it means, “to be agitated, perplexed, and thrown into confusion.”  It describes a life thrown as it were off course, and tossed about by the force of perplexing and adverse circumstances. 

“There is nowhere to be found a discourse so beautiful, so tender, so full of weighty thoughts, and so adapted to produce comfort, as that which occurs in these three chapters of John.  It is the consolatory part of our religion, where Christ brings to bear on the mind full of anxiety, and perplexity, and care, the tender and inimitably beautiful truths of His gospel - truths fitted to allay every fear, silence every murmur, and give every needed consolation to the soul.  In the case of the disciples there was much to trouble them.  They were about to part with their beloved, tender friend.  They were to be left alone to meet persecutions and trials.  They were without wealth, without friends, without honours.  And it is not improbable that they felt that His death would demolish all their schemes, for they had not yet fully learned the doctrine that the Messiah must suffer and die” – William Burkitt.

Consider Jesus’ comforting words: “Ye believe in God; believe also in Me.”  We will have true peace only when we commit all our cares to the Lord, trusting Him to work out His perfect plan and purpose for our lives.  Trust in the wisdom and sovereignty of our Almighty God.  Do not weary ourselves with our burdens once we have brought them to our Saviour.  Learn to wait upon Him. 

George MacGregor put the matter very plainly when he said: “Jesus Christ is able to deal with our cares; but it is important for us to notice how He deals with them.  He deals with them as He deals with our sins – by taking them upon Himself.  He bids us cast all our cares upon Him.”

Are we going through a difficult time?  Take comfort in these very words of Jesus in John 14: 27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”   Remember, when we put out trust in Jesus, nothing earthly, no matter how trying, can disturb this peace which only the Lord can give.  Amen.                                 

- Pastor