Peace In Troubled Times

Job was put through a terrible trial. First, having been rich, he lost all of his possessions. He lost his cattle, his house, and his children. Then Satan cursed him with a terrible sickness. Even his wife advised him to curse God and die. But in that moment, we see the most intense trust of God’s deliverance.

Job 19:25, “"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last. “

Job knew that no matter what he was going through now, he could endure it, because it wouldn’t last forever. As surely as his problem existed, one day his vindicator would stand triumphant.

III. We have what we need.

Jesus further comforted the disciples with his statement, “You know how to get there.” Now the disciples didn’t even think they knew how to get there. They didn’t think they knew the way out of their coming trials. But Christ explained that they knew him and he was the Way. He assured them that he would be sufficient for them. He would be all they needed.

So many times when we’re in a stormy time, it seems that something is missing. That there is something we need to get out. But Jesus said, “You have everything you need, as long as you know me.” And I would like to briefly mention that he’s not talking about knowing About him. He’s not talking about book knowledge. He’s talking about an intimate personal knowledge. He’s talking about the way you know your husband or wife, or your kids or brothers and sisters. This is a knowledge that comes with time and companionship.

And it’s this personal and intimate relationship with Christ that will get you through the hard times. If Christianity is just ritual for you, something you do out of a sense of requirement, then you’re going to give up in the hard times. But if Christianity is for you a very real friendship with the Living Savior of the World, then that relationship will help get you through.

If we return again to the example of Paul with the thorn in his flesh, we see that he said all he needed to get through his trial, to endure through his hardship was the grace of God.

2 Corinthians 12:9a, “Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need.”

IV. We’re not left alone. He will send us another Counselor.

This final assurance is, I think, the greatest and most powerful. Jesus was about to leave his disciples. They had known the presence of Christ for 3 ½ years and now there would be no more presence. Surely that thought would make anybody anxious. But Jesus promised that would not abandon them as orphans. He hadn’t spent those 3 ½ years ministering to them just to throw them to the wolves and hope they could survive. Instead, he promises that he will send another “paraclete.”

John 14:16,17a, “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, F71 who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”

Jesus promised them that even though he himself had to go, he would send Another. He would send the Holy Spirit to them. And the Holy Spirit wouldn’t be limited to time and space like Jesus was. Imagine if Jesus was still here, but not the Holy Spirit. We would have to wait to book him about 300 years down the road when his calendar was free. Until then, we could accomplish nothing. But now, we have the very Presence of God, everywhere at once, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. And this was made possible by Jesus leaving the earth.