Trouble Outside, But Not Inside
Trouble is nothing new. Trouble seems to be all around us and, too often, trouble is part of our lives. Sometimes we cannot escape or avoid trouble, and sometimes it comes from poor decisions and mistakes, from our own sin and the sin of others. Trouble is part of the human condition and something we all want to avoid, and the good news is that Jesus has both overcome all the trouble and is our help through our trouble.
When Jesus talked with the twelve apostles He often spoke about what was going to happen to Him. He gave them opportunities to understand that His kingdom was not of this world and that He was going to be killed and would no longer be with them as their teacher and companion on earth. In John 16 we read that the twelve finally began to understand what Jesus had been telling them and how He went on to warn them about what would happen to them too.
“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
“You believe at last!” Jesus answered. “But a time is coming and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:28, 31-33 (NIV)
Jesus told them plainly that in this world there will be trouble. The trouble was coming. Trouble is certain. Sometimes there will be trouble all around us, everywhere we turn. The trouble may feel like it is right out of Psalm 91 with terror at night, arrows flying during the day, pestilence and plague stalking us, and people falling under the trouble on our left and our right. Trouble will come, it may be right outside your door at this moment. But the trouble does not belong inside us. We can have and maintain peace inside our hearts while the trouble is happening outside. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] (AMP)” If we hold to Jesus then His peace that is perfect, complete in every way with no lack, no weak spots, no gaps, keeps our hearts settled and peaceful. There is nothing to fear because He has already fought every foe and has decisively won. Every battle, every stressor, every trouble has already obeyed the Master’s command, “Peace! Be still!”
The Psalms are filled with tales of trouble and cries for rescue. Then in Psalm 46 we read, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (NIV)” That is so like God to command us to not let our hearts be troubled or afraid, and then Himself be what we need to obey that command. He wants us to be at peace and not be troubled, and He is the one that will help us in the trouble, and he is the refuge and stronghold in which to safely abide until the trouble subsides.
Yes, trouble will come. It may be raging all around you today with its chaos, confusion, and fear. But keep it on the outside. Do not let your heart be troubled. We don’t have to have trouble on the inside.
