Good Shepherd Lutheran

He’s Right There – John 14:1-14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.” That’s what it says in John 14:1. For many of us today, troubled hearts seem to be the norm, especially when nothing seems normal anymore. And what’s worse, it feels like maybe nothing will ever be normal again.
It used to be a lot easier. When I was upset as a kid, mom was always there to tell me, “Everything’s going to be alright.” She’d hold me in her arms, dry my tears, and guess what? They really were alright. Moms comfort us. And they’re good at it. And that’s one of about a million reasons we love them.
But our problems today need more than just a hug and a tissue. Moms can do a lot, but today our problems are just too big for Mom to handle all on her own. We need heavenly intervention.
So, what troubles your heart today? For me, it’s the people suffering in our communities. Suffering from fear. Suffering from health issues. Suffering from loss of a job, or if they have a job, facing the fact that what they earn no longer even covers the necessities. And it’s not just our local communities. People all around the world are suffering and fearful. Some days it seems like being troubled and afraid is all we do.
The good news is that Jesus understands our fear. He’s not warning us about some future condition. He knows the trouble has already started. He can see it in us because he’s already experienced it himself. But he also knows that we can’t let our troubles define us.
Letting our hearts become un-troubled can begin with simply looking into our hearts and seeing and naming the things that trouble us. I know sometimes I don’t want to look at what’s troubling me. I don’t want to give it a name, because then it becomes too painful and too real. It’s like walking too close to the edge of the cliff and being afraid that if you peek over that edge you’re going into a free fall. We need a heavenly safety net.
When Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” He’s speaking for all of us. Where do we go and what do we do when it seems like everything is collapsing around us? Where’s the cure for our trouble?
When our hearts are troubled, we need to re-center ourselves in the Lord. That doesn’t mean our hearts will suddenly not be troubled. It doesn’t mean that it will necessarily fix the immediate problem. But it does mean that our lives are tethered to something greater than ourselves. It means that our hearts are held secure in God’s hands.
Whatever you face, whoever you are, that center is right there regardless of the troubles that surround you. Not because you’re the center, but because God is. And He’s right there inside you.