Hardships are a fact of life. Whether we want them or not, they come our way. In today’s first reading from Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas tell the people, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” The question is, how do we let those hardships affect us?
In the Gospel reading from John 14, Jesus tells His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” I’m sure these were words that Jesus knew the disciples needed to hear given what they would experience in the coming hours, weeks, months and years. Words that we need to take to heart today.
Hardship can certainly bring about a troubled heart. Not allowing our hearts to be troubled is certainly one of the greatest challenges of the Christian life. How do we do that? The answer for me is simply: trust. Trusting that God always has our back and a perfect plan for our lives is the only way to keep that troubled heart at bay.
Father, increase our trust, that when hardships come our way our hearts may not be troubled, but that we may praise you in the midst of it all. Amen.
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