God’s Response to Our Troubles

We are a people of troubled minds and hearts, just like the disciples in today’s Gospel. 

I woke up with searing low back pain today, and thought to myself, here’s just one more trouble to add to my list. Another problem in my earthly life that needs attention. 

But Jesus has good news for those of us with troubled hearts today: He’s come to prepare a place for us if we continue to follow His Way.

And what is His Way? Living as Jesus did. Embracing suffering, carrying the cross, following His teachings, serving others, making disciples, and having faith in the kingdom to come. Last but not least, doing the Father’s will for our lives.

I don’t know about you, but whenever life gets hard and I get troubled, as I’m praying about those troubles, the prospect of being in heaven with God forever frequently comes up in my prayer, as it does today. 

I used to think God wasn’t hearing my prayers for relief and resolution in times of trouble, but as I see the pattern of response I’ve received to difficulties over time, I’ve realized that this is often God’s answer to our troubles.

Stay put. Keep faith. A better time is coming. Joy in the morning. In eternity.

Why does God respond this way to so many of our troubles? 

The troubles of the present life are momentary in the light of our eternal destiny, even though that’s hard to swallow when you’re enduring them day to day. 

What the Lord says today is meant to draw our minds and hearts back to what really matters in the long run – the hope of dwelling in Him and with Him forever.