Luke 24:38 (ESV)
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do reasonings arise in your heart?
Right after Jesus appeared and greeted the disciples with peace, the disciples expressed the very opposite. They were frightened and even doubted. While grappling with all that had happened – the miraculous resurrection and the spectacular encounters of different people; they were attempting to make sense of the whole phenomenon. Jesus confronted their terrified and disturbed heart. Instead of being assured of his presence and peace, they tried to rationalize the situation and were perplexed.
He was direct. He asked, “Why?” “Why are you troubled?” We are guilty of unbelief. Just like the disciples engrossed in their troubled thoughts and allowed doubts to invade their hearts, we fall prey into this trap so often. We complicate matters by overthinking. We go into a mind web trying to entangle every unseen strand and then get trapped into cycles of complex cogitation.The negative thought processes affect our heart birthing turmoil.
Hold on to his promised presence with that given peace. Do not for a moment, allow our mind and heart to wander off into the woods of mental speculation. Do not get lost in there. Do not be drowned by the echoes in the woods. Know that Jesus stands with us. Hear his voice of peace. Believe his supernatural power.
If your mind is troubled, if your heart is disturbed – come, whisper a prayer to the Lord of Peace and abandon your doubts at his feet.
“Father, grant me peace to still the turmoil in my mind and heart. I believe in your power. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 18 April 2020