Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. John 14:1
I remember with each of my pregnancies nine months seemed like an eternity. I was over joyed to be a mom and couldn’t wait to hold that new little life in my arms. Having to wait however was such and anxious time. Why? Because I wanted the certainty that my baby was healthy. This was long before all the tests that are available to pregnant mommies today that can alert you if something is potentially wrong. Yes, there were the sonograms and I thanked God every time I could see the miracle of life growing inside me. Yet there was still so much unchartered territory in the medical field and many uncertainties couldn’t be answered until the delivery. I rejoice in the Lord that although I had difficult pregnancies, all or our children were born healthy.
In John 14 Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure. “The world of the disciples was about to be shattered; they would be bewildered, confused, and ridden with anxiety because of the events that would soon transpire. Anticipating their devastation, Jesus spoke to comfort their hearts.” (MacArthur study bible)
The dictionary defines the word “certainty” as, perfect knowledge that has total security from error, or the mental state of being without doubt. I don’t know about you but I think it’s safe to say that all of us want a sense of security and yet so often experience to one degree or another, nagging seasons of uncertainty and doubt. There are personal issues such as our health or the health of a loved one or friend. What will the diagnosis reveal or for that matter what will the prognosis look like? How about your marriage that lacks a unified faith in Christ and has known nothing but turmoil. Will there ever be peace? Perhaps you’re single and you wonder if God really does have someone in your future? What about your adult child who has walked away from God. Will he or she repent and return to the Savior? To add to the uncertainty you have no idea what the future holds for your grandchildren. Will they walk with Jesus or be sucked into the world? National, global and economic concerns can also take their toll. Terrorism is escalating so quickly and frequently that we can barely catch our breath when yet another attack goes viral.
Where can we find certainty and peace in a world filled with the exact opposite? Listen to words of David in Psalm 62:6-7, “He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.”
David discovered only after much turmoil that on God and God alone was certainty to be found. He said the words “He only” and “On God” was the source and sustenance of where his salvation and glory rest. But how could David know this with such conviction? He became intimately acquainted with the character of God.
This is what Jesus was preparing His disciples to learn after His physical presence would be taken from them. Jesus had been with His disciples for three years. Now they would have to rely on and remember His character and nature to give them that blessed assurance in a life filled with everything contrary to their faith. Our lovely Savior put the eyes of His disciples immediately back to Him.
Ladies this is something I must do again and again. The words of this worship song have become my personal counsel for certainty in uncertain times.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.