How to Handle Hard Times
Our text today is John 12:27-28
“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. Father, glorify Your name.”
May God bless the reading of his word.
This verse shows a side of Jesus that we sometimes overlook. It shows how he handled hard days. Jesus had a human side, an emotional side. Jesus hurt when faced with hard, hard days.
Look at it again. Isn’t that what Jesus says when he says, “Now my soul is troubled?” Jesus knows what lies before him and it troubles his heart.
I would never compare my troubles to the troubles of Jesus, but I too have laid my head on my pillow and felt that troubled heart. I’m sure you have too, So what do you do when you feel that way? Read this verse and notice four great steps for troubled hearts.
1. Acknowledge your pain.
Jesus was not some stoic who held it all in, Remember “Jesus wept.” Here he says, “My heart is troubled.” Jesus is not whispering these words to his own heart. He tells this to his disciples. Do not be afraid to show your heart.
2. Ask yourself what you should do.
Learning how to ask the right question is half of the answer. You do have choices. So did Jesus!
3. Decide
He could have escaped the pain of tomorrow, but he knew what he needed to do. When Jesus asked the question, he had a firm answer, “No.” I have to a do the right thing.
4. Let God help you.
Jesus had a heart troubling day before him. He leaned on God for help. He says, “Father, glorify your name.” Here is a powerful but short prayer of Jesus. To be powerful, a prayer does not have to be long. Just pray it. He will help you.
Lonnie Davis