Tuesday, 1 June 2021
Title: Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled
By: Pastor Isaac Yim
Text: John 14:1

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1 NIV)

The daily reports of escalating Covid-19 trouble us. The devastating forecast of this pandemic is way beyond our wildest imagination. These reports and numbers disturb and trouble us to no end.

Let not your hearts be troubled. Let not your hearts be troubled. Let not your hearts be troubled. These are timely words for my troubled heart. When there is trouble, Jesus is there. He comes up close to us. Jesus the Good Shepherd knows the inner troubles of His sheep. Jesus was speaking to His troubled disciples who knew that He was going to leave them soon. He was not so much troubled by His imminent crucifixion. He was more concerned about the fears and anxieties that went through the hearts and minds of His beloved disciples.

Perhaps with the Covid-19 many of us are suffering from many fears and anxieties – troubled hearts, fearful hearts, agitated hearts – being afraid, upset, disturbed because of the circumstances. The disciples were confronted with the fear of death of Jesus and even the possibility of their own execution by the Jews. They knew they were in danger and they were deeply troubled.

They were troubled by the thought of living without Jesus. It is easier to die with Jesus than to live without Him. Jesus saw through the troubled hearts; Covid-19 does bring about the fear that one of our loved ones – especially the bread-earner – might succumb to this virus. It will be hard to go on living without dad or mom, without husband or wife, or without a son or daughter. It is in such a situation, Jesus comes near with these comforting words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Jesus not only sees the trouble we are in. He provides the remedy to the troubles of our hearts. Jesus comforts and gives words of assurance and direction. Jesus continues, “Believe in God. Believe also in me.” Trust in God the Father and also trust in Me. The resurrected Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is our Rock in times of uncertainty.

We are all in danger to the new wave of stronger virus sweeping over our country and the world. We are stressed and strained by this threat. We have the assurance of Jesus who has overcome death, and we too are overcomers in Him. I have learned to pray the pray of Teresa of Avila in times of troubles and uncertainties. She prays,
“Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.”

I have also found hymns and songs that are very helpful in my personal time with God. This hymn, “Burdens Are lifted At Calvary” is a timely encouragement to my troubled heart.

Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary (Bill & Gloria Gaither, Ladye Love Smith) lyrics:
Days are filled with sorrow and care,
Hearts are lonely and drear.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary;
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.
Troubled soul, the Savior can see
Every heartache and tear.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary….

Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You for the assurance You have given to us as we put our faith in You and in Jesus Christ, who is the Way, and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). The words, and miracles of Jesus has given us confidence to trust that He will make good on all His promises. We Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit that lives in us. We Thank You that He is our comforter in hard times, our teacher, our guide through this journey of life. Thank You that You never leave us or forsake us in good or bad times. We give thanks in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

每日灵粮
星期二，2021年6月1日
标题：你们心里不要忧愁
作者：严以撒牧师
翻译：陈晓佩姐妹

你们心里不要忧愁；你们信神，也当信我。【约翰福音14:1】(和合本)

每天不断攀升的新冠疫情报告让我们困扰。这个疫情预测的破坏性超出我们从未有的想象，这些报告和数据无休止地扰乱并困扰着我们。

你们心里不要忧愁。你们心里不要忧愁。你们心里不要忧愁。这些话对我忧愁的心都是适时的。当有忧愁时，耶稣就在那里；祂与我们亲近。好牧人耶稣知道祂的羊内心的忧愁。耶稣和祂忧愁的门徒对话，他们知道祂很快就要离开他们了。祂并不太担心自己即将被钉在十字架上，祂更关心祂心爱门徒心中的恐惧和焦虑。

也许在我们当中有些人因着新冠疫情被恐惧和焦虑折磨着 – 忧愁的心、恐惧的心、心烦意乱的心 – 因着这些状况而畏惧、烦恼、不安。门徒们面临着对耶稣死亡的恐惧，甚至他们自己被犹太人处决的可能性。他们知道自己身处险境而感到极度的不安。

他们被没有耶稣的生活所困扰，与耶稣同死比没有耶稣活着容易。耶稣看透了人们忧心忡忡的心灵；新冠疫情确实带来了恐惧 – 我们所爱的人 – 尤其是养家糊口的人 – 可能会死于这种病毒的恐惧。没有父亲或母亲、没有丈夫或妻子、或没有儿子或女儿，生活将很难继续下去。正是在这种情况下，耶稣以这句安慰的话靠近我们：“你们心里不要忧愁。”

耶稣不只是看到了我们所处的困境，祂为我们忧愁的心灵提供了良方。耶稣安慰我们，并且给我们确据和指引的话语。耶稣继续说：“你们信神，也当信我。” 信靠天父上帝也信靠我。复活的主宰和救主耶稣基督是我们在这不确定时期里的磐石。

我们都处在席卷我们国家和世界的新一波更强病毒肆虐的危险里，我们对这一威胁感到压力和紧张。我们有已经战胜了死亡的耶稣的确据，在祂里面我们也是得胜者。我学会了在困难和不确定的时期，以亚维拉的德兰（Teresa of Avila）的祈祷来祷告。她祷告：
“不要让任何事情搅扰您，
不要让任何事情吓着您，
一切的事都会过去；
上帝永不改变。
忍耐可得着一切。
凡有上帝的就毫无缺乏；
唯独有上帝就足够。

我也发现诗歌在我个人与上帝独处时非常有帮助。这首诗歌，“重担皆脱下在各各他” (Burdens Are lifted At Calvary)对我忧愁的心是个及时的鼓励。

重担皆脱下在各各他 (Bill & Gloria Gaither, Ladye Love Smith) 歌词：

日日充满忧伤挂虑，
心里寂寞苦闷。
重担皆脱下在各各他，
耶稣何等亲近。
重担皆脱下在各各他，各各他，各各他；
重担皆脱下在各各他，耶稣何等亲近。
困苦者你忧伤眼泪
救主已经看见
重担皆脱下在各各他，
耶稣何等亲近
重担皆脱下在各各他，各各他，各各他。。。

祷告
亲爱的天父，当我们相信祢和就是道路，真理和生命(约翰福音14:6）的耶稣基督时，感谢祢赐给我们确据。耶稣的话语和神迹给了我们信心，让我们相信祂会实现祂所有的应许。我们感谢祢，祢给了我们住在我们里头的圣灵。我们感谢祢因祂是我们在患难时的安慰者，是我们的老师，是我们人生旅途中的向导。谢谢祢，无论顺境还是逆境，祢总不撇下我们，也不丢弃我们。我们奉耶稣的名感恩。阿们。