Remedy for Heart Trouble

John 14:1-6

Jesus said:

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God (1), believe also in Me (2). In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you (3). If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also (4). And you know the way where I am going.” 

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?” 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way (5), and the truth (6), and the life (7); no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

(Parenthesis numbers correspond with numbers below)

Heart disease is a killer. Doctors hop on the defense as soon as they detect the slightest problem with your heart. You want a cure and your doctor wants to use the latest technology to help you. The goal is to catch it early. And you are anxious until you are reassured by your doctor that you are going to be OK.

Well, our Great Physician, Jesus, felt the same way when He knew His disciples were uneasy about His announcement that He was leaving them. The disciples knew it was not the temporary times He went alone to pray. No, this was a more permanent departure. They probably thought, “We’re not ready to stand on our own.” They had been with him 24/7 since He asked them to follow Him and now what? They were unsure, confused, anxious, stressed, and just plain troubled. Does that sound like your life at home, or at work? I seem to encounter problems every day that make me unsure and stressed. How do I handle this situation with family, finances, co-workers, bosses, friends, and "not so much" friends? But Jesus gave the disciples a prescription to cure their heart trouble. And this same treatment works for us today.

RX for heart trouble:

1.    Believe in the Father God the creator/sustainer of everything.

2.    Believe in Christ the Messiah/Savior/Redeemer.

3.    Believe in Christ for your future.

4.    Believe in Christ for your security.

5.    Believe in Christ for your direction.

6.    Believe in Christ as the definer of truth.

7.    Believe in Christ as your life force.

                                                Use daily as often as needed.

The key here is “believe.” This word comes from the Greek word “pistis.” It is a complicated combination of faith and trust in God with our mind and the divinely imparted faith that God gives to His children. It’s not a faith we can work up on our own but one we access because we are His own. Some have called it faith-believing.  This is belief we trust in, are certain of, have divine confidence in. and can rely on for answers in our sticky situations of life.

If we are heart troubled, we only have to follow the treatment listed above by Christ, in Christ, and through Christ.

The Old hymn reminds us:

Only believe. Only believe. All things are possible. Only believe.

(Oooh, you’ve got to hear Yolanda Adams sing it!)