A Message of Hope and Faith

Throughout history, few moments carry the weight and significance of Jesus’ final words to His disciples on the night of His arrest. As He faced the darkest hour of His earthly ministry and stood on the brink of His crucifixion, facing betrayal, agony, and death, His words to His disciples were filled with urgency and importance:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:1

Preparing for Crisis

Jesus knew the disciples were about to face the greatest crisis of their lives, and He wanted to prepare them for it. It’s evident from the scriptural account that the disciples didn’t fully understand the coming Resurrection, even though Jesus had told them fourteen different times that He would be crucified. And seven of those fourteen times, He included that He would rise again on the third day. Still, this was not in the forefront of their minds.

From their perspective, it seemed that all the hopes they had pinned on Jesus as the Messiah—the one who would redeem Israel and deliver them from Roman occupation—were completely shattered. Consequently, not only were they spiritually affected, but their lives were in danger merely by association. You know, Scripture highlights that after Jesus was arrested, Peter denied Him three times. But it wasn’t only Peter who fled—all of the disciples forsook Jesus.

Overcoming Personal Crises

Maybe you find yourself in a crisis as you read this. It might even be an extremely critical situation in your marriage, business, or finances. There are many different types of challenging circumstances we can all face in life, and they can really seem overwhelming. While I don’t want to diminish whatever you might be going through, I truly believe it doesn’t compare to the crisis these disciples were dealing with. I know that’s a bold statement, but I believe it to be true.

Remember, they had pinned all of their hopes on Jesus. They’d given up everything, and now it seemed as if everything they had believed was a lie. They had left families, homes, businesses—they forsook it all, and without a backup plan. So, when Jesus was arrested, it looked like total failure. And on top of all that, their very lives were now in jeopardy. This was a major crisis situation.

Satan Attacks Vulnerabilities

I believe Satan knows where we’re vulnerable. He sometimes sees our weaknesses better than we do. Being a spiritual creature, he doesn’t just perceive things in the natural realm. I believe he saw that these disciples were the ones Jesus was entrusting His entire kingdom to and that Jesus was depending on them. And because of that, I believe Satan was throwing everything he had at them—depression, discouragement, fear, anything he could use to try to snuff these guys out. After all, they were the ones who would carry on the message Jesus had left with them. So, they likely faced demonic opposition during this time that few of us have ever experienced.

I share all of that to provide some background. Imagine yourself in the shoes of Jesus’ disciples, your heart heavy with apprehension as you confront all the uncertainties amidst all these events. And the very first thing Jesus says is to not let your heart be troubled. I tell you, this is just phenomenal.

Mastering Emotions

You know, in many churches today, psychology has infiltrated people’s thinking. Consequently, some believe that embracing your humanity means not suppressing any feelings or emotions but rather just letting everything out and venting. We’ve gotten to the point where we indulge our emotions and even criticize people if they don’t fall apart like a two-dollar suitcase when something bad happens.

The Trap of Bondage

Psychology teaches that we’re all just evolved animals rather than spiritual beings and that we can’t regulate our emotions. As a result, many people feel completely out of control, thinking, I can’t help how I feel. If this person does this to me, this is the reaction I’ll have.

Let me just say this in love—that is bondage. If you are a person who just vents, without any control over your emotions, you are a disaster waiting to happen. I know that might offend some people, but it is absolutely true. James 1:15 says that sin is conceived in lust, which is the emotional arena. So, you’ve got to stop it at the conception stage.

Choosing Peace in Crisis

Jesus, knowing that the disciples were going to see Him arrested that very night and then beaten and crucified, wanted to comfort His disciples by telling them to not let their hearts be troubled. There are so many things we can learn from this, and one of them is that when you’re in a crisis, you need to take it to the Lord. You can choose to give Him your emotions and let His love, joy, and peace come and fill that place where your negative emotions are brewing.

I am not teaching denial. I am teaching that you can deny emotions permission to control you. You can acknowledge that something somebody did or said bothered or hurt you, but you don’t have to let it dominate, control, or influence your emotions.

Choosing to Operate in Love

I guarantee you that Jesus, as He hung on the cross, wasn’t feeling goosebumps of love go up and down His spine for people. Yet He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). It was a choice. He went against what He was feeling, and He operated by choice.

Love isn’t emotionless; it encompasses more than just emotions. I guarantee you, love is a choice and a commitment that you willingly make. So, the answer isn’t suppressing or venting your emotions. What you need to do is cast your cares over on the Lord and let God come in and heal your heart.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7

The Power of Prayer

As you read this, you might know that change is needed in your life. You know that you need access to the power of God, but you just don’t know how to get from where you are to where you need to be. I’m telling you, the Word of God has the answer.

Jesus has now given us power of attorney. Look what He said here:

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:24

Direct Access to God

Jesus has given us the power of attorney to ask in His name. In the Old Testament, priests offered sacrifices, but those sacrifices could never cleanse people permanently. Thankfully, Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, did what no priest ever could: He made atonement for sin once and for all and transformed us into new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). Now we can pray directly to God the Father through Jesus.

God Isn’t Nitpicky About Prayer

You know, there are some who wonder whether to pray to the Father or Jesus. John 16:23–24 makes it clear: pray to the Father in Jesus’ name. We have the same rights as Jesus because of His sacrifice. But in desperate times, just crying out to Jesus works too. God isn’t as nitpicky as some make Him out to be. He understands our cries for help!

God’s Love for You

Some see God the Father as harsh and Jesus as compassionate. That’s wrong. Jesus said the Father Himself loves us (John 16:27). God’s wrath in the Old Testament was due to sin, but His true nature is love (1 John 4:8 and 16). Jesus took all of God’s wrath, changing our relationship with Him. It’s wrong to think of God as angry and Jesus as the one holding Him back. The Father loves us (John 16:27).

Jesus also said the Holy Spirit would reveal the Father to us plainly (John 16:25). In Mark 4:10–12 and Matthew 13:10–11, Jesus explained that His disciples had a special revelation from God.

God’s True Nature

In John 16:26–27, Jesus said, “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” This shows God is loving, not harsh.

Religion often misrepresents God as angry, but He is both just and loving. He doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9). The Father loves you because you love Jesus and believe He came from God. The disciples finally understood and believed this (John 16:29–30), and it’s time we believe and receive this revelation too.

Healing Broken Hearts

There is an anointing on Jesus and upon every person who turns to Him to heal their broken heart. We need to get to the place where, even if we’re faced with death, we can’t help but praise God, knowing that heaven awaits. If we truly grasp this, then any earthly trouble we encounter would just pale in comparison to the glory ahead. Praise God.

So, when you’re tempted to let fear or anxiety dominate your emotions, take Jesus’ words to heart. If they could sustain His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion, they can sustain us today.