November 3, 2025 Don't Be Troubled

Don’t Be Troubled 

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. . . I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  ​John 14:1-3, 27 NLT 

Jesus wants us to always be with him where he is. What a gift. In the next chapter he talks about being our friend. True friendship wants to be together and have fellowship. God wants to be with us. But this friendship is bigger than human relationships because God can truly be with our spirits throughout eternity and not just our bodies. When we die, we will still be with Jesus even though we will be parted from all of our earthly friends.  

This friendship is also with Jesus who is more powerful than our human friends. Jesus promises us peace and the hope to be less troubled in difficult circumstances—because we know him and his friendship calms us. The world cannot give us peace, but God can give us peace. 

Jesus doesn’t discount fear or concern—he himself felt it viscerally a few chapters later before his death. Our fears are valid and can be overwhelming. But Jesus offers a way to persevere through fear and find moments of calm as we believe God is in control and cares about us.  

Reflect: What circumstances are making you feel troubled? Have you ever felt calm in trying circumstances when you talked to God about them?  

Pray: Thank you, God, for sending Jesus to experience life and fear. Thank you that he empathizes with us. Thank you for being our friend and wanting to be always with us. Remind us of these things in troubling times and give us hope. Amen.  

May you feel God’s presence with you,  Sarah Visser-Kincaid