He was troubled
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. John 12:27
Have you ever been on your way to an assignment that you were sure came directly from the Holy Spirit, but you felt nervous or afraid? Maybe you made a decision to move forward in a direction that was His leading only to be met with setbacks and delays. Sometimes the circumstances can actually feel like maybe you didn’t hear from God after all. I have often found myself asking the question: “if it is God’s will it should just all fall into place or shouldn’t it be easy to complete the plan and mission He has for me?”
If we look at the life of Jesus, it is clear that God’s plan is not going to be simple, and it will require much sacrifice. Jesus didn’t question God’s plan and He didn’t wonder that maybe He had gotten it wrong when the opposition came. He recognized that it was all part of the plan and that the struggle made it necessary for Him to press in and depend more on His Father’s love and grace to get to His destination. He had the hardest assignment that any person will ever have, and it was anything but easy all through His ministry.
This is good news for us today. The good news is that we don’t have to wonder and question when the Holy Spirit points us in the direction of ministry. We can know that we are heading the right way, and we can depend on needing help along the way. If the plan of God on your life were easy, you would have not need to trust Him every step of every day.
In today’s reading Jesus is struggling with what He knows is coming up. Even though He is still a couple of days away from the torment that He had to face, He is already starting to ask questions. He admits that He is troubled, and He asks Himself the question of: “Should I ask my Father to save me from this mission? Of course, not because this is the reason I have come into the world.”
This needs to be our response too. When we are struggling to complete the assignment given, it is ok to be concerned and ask questions. Ultimately though we need to recognize that the mission is the reason we have been given life and that we make the decision to get His grace and strength to complete it. We will never have to suffer like Jesus did, but we will have to press through the tough times every day of our journey.
Today I want to encourage you to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous plan for your life. When you know God’s Spirit is pointing in a certain direction, first of all write it down along with a scripture that you asked Him for to remember when you have doubts. When you do that, you will have an anchor to go back to when the questions and tough times come. Next, instead of letting your feelings lead you, determine to ask Him for help when you are feeling like quitting. Lastly, Thank Him for His presence with you every day of your life. Walk out each step you take in this life in the power and grace that He has for you. Then when you are faced with struggles and set backs you can say: “Should I ask for a different mission? No, this mission is the reason that I am here in this place right now.” Go ahead and complete, down to the last detail, all that you have been called to. Then when you are done in this world, you will be ready to face Him in the next.
Today’s scripture reading: John 12:27-36
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
The Daily Dose 