The Power of Fear

I know Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid," (John 14:27) but sometimes my heart is still troubled.  I wish it was as simple as reading the words.  I wish reading the words would send the trouble on its way and my heart would be filled with peace again.  I know the word of Jesus is dependable and I know He can handle my trouble, but the first problem has to do with my initial response to the trouble swirling around me and, perhaps, within me.  My first reaction always seems to be the natural reaction.  

When trouble stirs my heart, I look for ways to fix it.   Jesus said these words in a moment which precipitated the world of the disciples being turned upside down.  They had depended on Him.  They could not imagine life without His presence.  The status quo which they knew with Him was on the cusp of changing.  Their world was going to be shattered.  It was in this setting that Jesus spoke these words to those disciples and anyone else whose heart was overcome by unexpected and unmanageable trouble.  

What we often miss as we read these words are the words, "do not let them be afraid."  Fear is such an immobilizing emotion.  It causes us to feel powerless.  Fear's assumption is that there is nothing we can do.  Fear would make us its victim.  Our hearts become troubled because they are taken hostage by our fears.  The one thing to remember when we finish reading the page and hearing the words of the Scripture is that God is still in control and in charge.  Even in the midst of life's worst, He has a way forward and He calls us to wait for it to unfold.