Got tsuris? ∙

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Got tsuris? ∙

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27

John 14:25-29

 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.

 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

 27 I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.

 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

When children growing up in Jewish homes, get in trouble, there is a special Yiddish word that is used, tsuris. Familiar phrases are often heard, such as, “You are in such tsuris, just wait until your father gets home.” It translates as trouble, woe, grief, or strife. If you try to pronounce it phonetically, tso͝or′ĭs, tsuris has an unpleasant ring to it. For many, it sounds like trouble. Every day has enough trouble to keep you busy without worrying about what’s coming down the pike.

Matthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

When we are kids and get picked on, it often helps if we have a big brother who comes alongside and helps.

With a little sanctified imagination, we can visualize what it was like for the disciples when the Lord Jesus was physically with them on the earth. It was kind of like having the best big brother ever (BBBE). But the trouble with big brothers is that sometimes they have to leave. With their departure, the confidence, protection, and security that they provided are no longer available.

That is exactly the situation the disciples were facing. The Lord Jesus Christ was leaving and returning to the Father in heaven. Tremendous abandonment issues were looming on the horizon. They were going to experience great anguish, shattered dreams, tremendous loss, and a sense of being forsaken. But the Lord Jesus Christ was not going to leave them alone very long. He was going to send them another Helper, the Holy Spirit.

The Father in His kindness and understanding makes arrangements for something far better than a transitory big brother. The Father provided a wonderful gift for each child of the King. The Father sends the Holy Spirit to be their advocate and comforter. He will never leave any child of the King (John 14:16).

Each of the Father’s children enjoys the peace of mind and confidence of having the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Therefore, our hearts do not have to be troubled or fearful. We can depend upon the indwelling Holy Spirit’s assistance to get us through.

REFLECT & PRAY

Confidence does not come easy for many of us. This is particularly true if we never had a big brother who protected us. But as children of the King, we have something better.

Father thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit. Rather than falling into fear and dread, encourage me to depend upon the presence and strength of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

INSIGHT

The peace that the Lord Jesus Christ offers is unique and far different than that which is normally available to us in the world. In the world, the best we can hope for is the absence of open hostility and warfare. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for peace is shalom. It is not merely the absence of war but rather it connotes a sense of completeness, fulfillment, well-being, ease, unaffectedness, success, wholeness, even prosperity.

The peace that the Lord Jesus Christ offers is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God.

The peace the Lord Jesus Christ provides “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) because it has a supernatural source in the heart of Christ Himself. His peace keeps us from fear and worry because it brings us straight to Him (Stanley).

He left us with tremendous promises.

John 14:1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.

The Holy Spirit not only helps us to be courageous and face difficulties with confidence, but He also teaches us and helps us to remember the truths of God’s word (John 14:26).

Because the Holy Spirit is now within every child of the King, He facilitates the process of lifelong learning, internalizing, and depending upon the truth of the Father’s Word. We can draw on His strength and learn to relax and have confidence in our everyday lives.

Because the Father provided the Holy Spirit, we can relax and have confidence in our everyday lives. We draw on His strength and learn to loosen up, calm down, and trust. Anxiety and fear can become a thing of the past.

When we experience times of stress and disappointment, the Holy Spirit will recall to our minds what the Father has said in His word. We can stand upon the truth and relax.

The world bases its peace on its resources, while the Father’s peace depends on relationships. To be right with God means to enjoy the peace of God. The world depends on personal ability, but children of the King depend on spiritual adequacy in Christ. In the world, peace is something you hope for or work for; but for a child of the King, peace is the Father’s wonderful gift, received by faith. Unsaved people enjoy peace when there is an absence of trouble; children of the King enjoy peace despite trials because of the presence of power, the Holy Spirit (Wiersbe).

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