John 14-17: “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Jesus is so compassionate. He knows our weaknesses. As He prepared to leave the earth He did not want to multiply the anguished hearts of the ones He had grown to love. In His great compassion He tried to give them a forewarning of what was to come. Jesus was about to die in what would seem like total defeat, but Jesus was telling them ahead of time this is not the end and this is not defeat but victory.
You may be in much the same place these days. You may feel as though the enemy is winning and that life is just too heavy a burden to bear. The good news is you don’t have to bear it alone. Just as Jesus was promising hope to the disciples He is offering that same hope you to. A Helper has come. He is the Holy Spirit and for those who yield their lives to Jesus He comes in and takes up residence in your heart. He will guide you. He will help you. He will make intercession for you to the very throne of heaven on your behalf. You are never alone with Him and He longs to give you power from on High.
Jesus was affirming these very things to the disciples because He knew there would be dark days for them too where the answers were not as clear and the violence around them was severe. But just as He expected them to be of good heart and find strength He expects the same thing from us. Here is how He said it.
14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Hold on to that peace today.