Let not your heart be troubled..

Dear Friends! God's Peace! This week our letter is written by Pastor Rod Johnson.



Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the

world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

True peace will never be complete in this world in which

we live. That peace depends on many various factors that

will always be very uncertain at best, for there are so many

things in life over which we have no control. It is for this reason

that Jesus directs our thoughts and desires to Him and His

Word in the above quote from the Gospel of John.



For the very reason of human concern, Matthew 6:33-34

records these words of Jesus: But seek ye first the kingdom of

God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added

unto you. Take therefore no thought (do not be anxious) for the

morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of

itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (or its own trouble)

thereof.



Recently, worldwide, we have heard of many serious

situations: natural disasters, hurricanes, cyclones and ongoing

wars. Commonly we deal with health issues, financial concerns,

persecutions, etc. as daily aspects of life here on earth. Even

today the fear of the disaster of the US economy is reported in

the news media. The Word guides us in this, Love not the

world, neither the things that are in the world… (I John 2:15)



When our love is to the Lord, the things of earth grow strangely

dim as we rely on the graciousness of God!



So what do we do? Worry, fret, complain, curse God as Job

was told to do? Or, by faith, commit all things into the hand of

God, trusting in His promises and grace? Jesus clearly told us

what to do in the verses above; but because our sin nature

always wants to be in control and have assurances that everything

will be well we may have anxieties that overwhelm us.



We have hopes in this world, but they are often unfulfilled.

We pray, but the Lord does not always grant our will because

He has other plans that go beyond our knowledge. Therefore,

our only sure hope and peace must be found in Jesus Christ

and His assurance that lasts into eternity that we may possess

the peace that passes all human understanding.



Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct

thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he

that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a

rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah,

being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with

fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which

he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness

which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:6-7) Noah relied on the providence

of God for all things unseen or unknown, trusting that

God was faithful to His promise. The future was in the Lord’s

hand for him as it is also for us.



In the Gospel of John, in what is known as ‘The High

Priestly Prayer,’ Jesus prays for victory for His own over that

which is of the world. He forewarned us that we will have

trouble in this world but not to give up hoping in Him. Therefore,

He said, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me

ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:

but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)


Living in His peace! Praying that you are also!


In the Love of Jesus Christ,

Pastor Rod Johnson

Laurium, Michigan