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Presented by Lauren Stibgen
How confident are you in Jesus? More specifically, in your most anxious times, how much are you trusting in him as your greatest peace. Let’s return to John 14, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
There are so many reasons we can come up with to say this is easier said than done. One of my favorite prayers in this moment echoes the desperate father in Mark 9:24: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. In my most anxious moments when I don’t know what to do, this is the short prayer I utter— often out loud. Sometimes on a walk. And, yes, on repeat. I desperately want the confidence that my fellow followers of Jesus had when he was performing miracles in their presence.
When I am sick, I think about the bleeding woman in Mark 5:25-34 and Luke 8:43-48. She bled for 12 years. She sought every treatment possible and exhausted her resources. She was socially isolated due to her condition. Was she anxious when she set out to see Jesus? Maybe. But she had so much confidence in his ability to heal her, that she went anyway.
When a loved one is sick, I think about the father wanting Jesus to heal his demon possessed son. I think of Mary and Martha who called for Jesus when their brother Lazarus was sick only to have him die. Martha ran to meet Jesus and, in her grief, she said: Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died (John 11:32b). In John 11:40, Jesus tells Martha: Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God? Jesus wanted her to have full confidence in him even when she was anxious about unsealing Lazarus’ tomb.
I want the confidence of the people who were in that crowd of 5,000. They trusted Jesus for teaching and probably never expected that they would be fed. But he provided for their every need. When I am lacking, I want to trust in Jesus that he will provide for me, even when I am anxious about my physical needs.
I want the confidence of the disciples. Wow! Think about them seeing Jesus perform so many miracles and then Jesus basically says, your turn! Found in three of the four Gospels, we are told that Jesus instructs them to heal and drive out evil spirits just like he did! Were they anxious? I bet they were! But they had confidence in the one who was sending them—Jesus (Matthew 10, Mark 6, Luke 9 and 10).
Jesus, our peace calls us to release our anxiety and have confidence in him alone. Pray with me today: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!”
