What do we do when our Plans Fall Through? When our Hearts are Troubled

It is Thursday evening. The disciples are relaxing during the meal. It has been quite a week for them – the adoration showered on Jesus during his Sunday entrance into Jerusalem; the shock of watching Jesus overturn the money changers’ tables in the temple courtyard; the vitriol from the religious leaders as they tried to trap Jesus with their questions.

But those events are behind them. Now it is time to recline and relax at a quiet Passover meal with Jesus.

All eyes are on Jesus as he gets up from the meal, takes off his cloak and wraps a towel around his waist. He gets the foot-washing water. They can’t believe what they are seeing. Their Master is acting like a servant. He is washing all their dirty feet.

No one says anything. No one knows what to say.

“I’ve got something to say!” says Peter. “You’re not going to wash my feet, Jesus!”

Jesus replies softly, “Peter, if I don’t wash you, you will have no part of me.”

“Then wash all of me! My head, hands, and feet!” Peter exclaims.

Jesus smiles, “Your feet will be enough, Peter.”

The disciples had been arguing earlier in the week about which of them was the greatest. But now Jesus teaches them about being true servants.

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When Jesus is finished, he returns to the table. He is sitting with men who have been following him for three years. They have become very close friends. So, it staggers them to hear Jesus say, “One of you is going to betray me.”

The disciples stare at each other. They are shocked. They just sit there. No one knows what to say.

“I can’t just sit here!” Peter says. “I’ve got to say something!” He nudges the disciple whom Jesus loves. “John, ask Jesus which of us is going to betray him.”

Judas gets up with a piece of bread in his hand and abruptly leaves the room. Everyone thinks Judas needs to buy something else for the meal.

Jesus tells the Eleven, “I’m only going to be with you a little longer. Where I’m going you can’t follow me now. But you will follow me later.”

No one understands. No one knows what to say. No one says anything.

“I’ve got something to say!” Peter says. “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!”

Jesus looks at Peter sadly and says, “Peter, you’re not going to lay down your life for me. Before morning, you’re going to deny me three times.”

Now, even Peter doesn’t know what to say!

The disciples are worried about the hatred of the religious leaders. They are confused about their Master washing their dirty feet. They are angry that one of them could betray Jesus. They are heartbroken that Jesus is leaving them. They are saddened that Peter – the strongest of them – could deny Jesus.

Anger, angst, sadness, worry, confusion – their hearts are troubled.

Our Hearts are Troubled, Too

Anger, angst, sadness, worry, confusion – these are the emotions you are feeling right now. Your heart is also troubled.

And when trouble comes – whether the trouble finds us or we find the trouble – what happens to our hearts? Our hearts are anxious, worried, sad, angry and confused. … Our hearts are troubled.

Jesus speaks to his troubled disciples of all ages, “Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).

Jesus tells us to stop being troubled. The Greek word for “trouble” has the picture of water that is churning or seething, as in a rough surf. The news of the betrayal, denial, and departure of Jesus has caused the disciples’ hearts to churn with fear and apprehension.

This Covid-19 crisis is showing us as Americans to be increasingly anxious, depressed, and isolated. People are more ready to report their neighbors’ activities, more addicted to their screens, and more politically polarized than ever before. People are out of work, out of money, and out of patience. They want to be out of isolation.

Our hearts are churning with fear and apprehension. Jesus tells us, “Stop letting your hearts be churned up.”

Jesus doesn’t simply pat his disciples on the head and say, “There, there, everything will be all right.” He tells why they have no reason to be troubled. He tells us to keep doing what we are doing. “Keep believing in God. Keep believing in me.”

What do we do when trouble comes on us? We pray for Jesus to remove our troubles. Yet, Scripture says that God uses trouble so he can comfort us and we can then comfort others in their trouble (2 Corinthians 1:3,4), so God can refine and purify us with troubles (Isaiah 48:10), so he can teach us patience and train us in perseverance (Romans 5:3-5), and so we are prepared for eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Jesus doesn’t promise to remove our troubles from us. Rather, he promises to remove us from our troubles. He promises to remove our troubles eventually and eternally in heaven.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you may also be where I am” (John 14:2-4).

What Jesus means is, “I’m going to prepare a place for you … tonight and tomorrow.” Through Jesus’ betrayal, denial, conviction, and crucifixion, Jesus prepared a room for all those in that upper room and all of you in your living rooms.

He prepared a place for you through his innocent suffering and substitutionary death. Jesus prepared a place for you by being shut into the enclosed room of the tomb for three days and then bursting forth on Easter dawn. He prepared a room for you through his ascension to his Father’s right hand in heaven.

What troubles you? Is it the heart-breaking news in our world or the heartaches within your own home? Is it past mistakes that haunt you or present financial struggles that scare you or future health problems that concern you?

What happens when your plans fall through and your hearts are troubled? Keep believing in God. Continue believing in Jesus.

We are living in uncertain times, but we have a God who is certainly in control. We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds our future in his nail-scarred hands.

Don’t let things trouble your heart. God has taken care of your troubles of the past. He is with you in the troubles of your present. His abiding presence and forgiveness will be with you despite your troubles in the future. He will eventually and eternally remove your troubles in heaven.