The alternative to worry is trust. When we have deeply rooted trust in God, His power, and His plans, we will not worry as much. Alternatively, when we do not trust God’s plan and power in our lives, we are prone to worry. That is why, instead of worrying, Jesus invites us to trust Him with our lives. After all, He has proven Himself to be trustworthy, and He always will be.
Jesus instructed His disciples to trust Him instead of giving in to worries in John 14. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus was spending some of His last moments with His disciples before His arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. He had just explained that He would not be with them much longer. In light of everything He was teaching, He said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled" (verse 1). In other words, Jesus was telling them not to be worried. He did not want them to worry even though He was going to leave them soon and die a tragic death on the cross. Instead of worrying, Jesus offered them a different alternative. He said, "Trust in God, and trust also in me" (verse 2). The invitation could not be more straightforward. Instead of worrying, Jesus called His disciples to put their faith in God the Father and Him. Next, He gave them a peak at what was to come in the future. He said, "There is more than enough room in my Father's home… When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am" (verses 2-3). Jesus assured His disciples that He was trustworthy and that He would make everything right one day, and because of that, we do not have to lean in to worry. In fact, He was preparing a place for them to spend eternity with Him one day. As a result, they could turn to Him and trust Him in the midst of fear and uncertainty.
We can still place our faith in God in the middle of our worries. My friend, you have a God who is wholly trustworthy. You do not have to give in to fear or worry. You can, instead, turn to your trustworthy God, who has proved Himself faithful to you and who will continue to be faithful. Lean on Him today.
One of the ways to strengthen our faith is to look back on how God has taken care of us in the past. Set a timer for 5 minutes and begin naming all of the ways God has guided and protected you in the past. Let this list be a reminder to you of how faithful God has been, and let this list compel you to trust Him with your future.
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 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? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
