Why are you troubled
And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Luke 23:38
Today is a day of great troubles and turbulent struggles in our world. Looking at the latest headlines can be stressful and scary. Wars and uprisings, plagues and incurable diseases, confusion and chaos, just to name a few of the traumas we face on a daily basis. We are living in trying times for sure. Some of the worst tension our world has ever known. Yet in the midst of all of it, we still have hope, and we can still experience His peace.
When Jesus walked into a gathering of His disciples after He was raised up from the dead, His first question to the group was: “Why are you troubled?” Never mind the fact that they had seen Jesus beaten, crucified and die in the last three days and now His body had disappeared. Jesus’ question was legitimate, though. He had told them before that it was all going to happen. I guess He expected that they would all be celebrating that since His body was gone, He must have risen up from the dead, just as He said He would. Instead, they were frightened that they would be blamed for taking the body and they were concerned for their own lives. Now, Jesus in true Jesus fashion, comes into the situation bringing peace. His first words to them were “Peace to you!” His will was not for them to be afraid, and His plan was not for them to be troubled. In fact, He told them what was going to happen so that they could be prepared, not perplexed and hiding away from the guards.
He has the same expectation for us today. His will is not for us to be troubled and His plan is not for us to hide away until He comes back to get us. He told us ahead of time what to expect and His plan is for us to have peace, believe His word and to occupy this world until He returns. Jesus intended that His people would occupy and possess the earth as a conquered territory and rescue the lost souls of this tempestuous world and that is our part in the world today. We are not the minority; we are supposed to be in charge. Not in the political realm, but in the spiritual and in the realm of loving and rescuing other, and we are. This world may look like a war zone, but behind the scenes, God has people in every nation rescuing the prisoners of His enemy. He had people on the front lines and He has people in the background funding and supporting those on the front lines. We are His occupying force in the earth and we will occupy and be in peace until He comes back to get us.
Today I want to encourage you to be in peace. Don’t let the news of the world trouble you and don’t look to leaders in the natural to make things better. God’s people are the ones who carry peace in this world and we are the ones that are ruling in the spiritual world. Step away from the turmoil, distractions and destruction of today’s world and step into your place of rescuing the perishing. Whether it’s on the front lines or in the background, your part is important. Seek Him out today and find out what your part is.
Today’s scripture reading: Luke 24:36-43
36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”
37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”
42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
The Daily Dose 