By Janae Burchett
Before His impending death, Jesus chose the following words to be among His last to His disciples: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1 ESV).
If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you make sure to tell your loved ones today?
“Let not your hearts be troubled.”
What is troubling your heart today? Take a few moments and journal all that is plaguing your heart. Be specific.
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“Jesus welcomes us to view the world through the lens of our faith in Him, allowing Him to transform our perspective.”
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Redirection + Transformation
Jesus didn’t only acknowledge the disciples’ fears. He did what a parent might do with a toddler who needs correction — He redirected them.
For example, when a child hits their sibling, a parent might say, “Do not hit! That hurts your brother. Can you show him your kind hands instead?”
Jesus didn’t want to leave the disciples stuck in fear and anxiety, so He redirected their focus to Him: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
What a powerful invitation to place our trust not only in God, but in Jesus Himself — the Word made flesh.
This redirection is beautifully captured in the lyrics of an old hymn: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
Too often, we have our priorities backward: We view Jesus through the lens of this world, our understanding of life, our experiences, etc.
But Jesus welcomes us to view the world through the lens of our faith in Him, allowing Him to transform our perspective.
Reflection
Let’s return to your journal for a moment.
- Go back to your list of troubles. Spend some time in prayer over each one, asking Jesus to show you how you can trust Him more deeply in each of those areas.
- Listen to the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” As you listen, identify one practical step you can take today to shift your focus toward the Lord.
To believe in Jesus is to rest assured that He is who He says He is: trustworthy, faithful, and good.
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Janae Burchett is The Arbor Church’s worship arts director. She is an alumna of Spring Arbor University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees.