let not your heart be troubled

The Golden Text for this week's Bible lesson speaks to each of us: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. We all hold things in our heart that trouble us at times and if we do not deal with them it can lead to fear of the outcome. Abraham was asked, at age 75, to leave everything behind and start a long journey to a Promised Land. He did not let his age hold him back. At 99, God promises that Abraham will father a child and Sarah gives birth to Isaac in her 90's. Think of the medical challenges both of them overcame as they chose to be obedient to God. David, still in his teens, goes up against the seasoned warrior giant Goliath. He does not let his youth hold him back. Armed with confidence, but not choosing to wear the armor King Saul offered him, David runs to meet Goliath and defeats him. He did not let his heart be troubled by this Goliath-sized problem. Jesus had to constrain his disciples to get into a boat and leave him behind. Could have been that those experienced fishermen could see the signs of the storm they would encounter? The storm held no problems for Jesus, he simply walked right through it. Jairus feared for his daughter, who seemed to be dying. Imagine how he felt when Jesus agrees to come heal her and then is delayed by the woman healed of an issue of blood. Jairus' recieves word that she has died. But Jesus tells him not to be afraid of this news. When they get to the house the professional mourners are out front, making a great fuss, hoping to be hired. Jesus dismisses them and raises the child. That called for strong faith and pure love. The thought I will work with today is this: Step by step will those who trust Him find that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (S&H 444) Don't let your heart be troubled...or trouble you...today. Trust in the goodness of God. No weapon formed against you can succeed. No comments made against you will be listened to or believed. No evil shall come your way in any form, even illness is powerless to harm you.