I’ve tried several times and in several ways over the past few days to answer the question many people are asking: Are you having camp this summer?
So many things have made this a hard (if not impossible) question to answer. Things are changing so rapidly. Things are unpredictable. Things are out of my (our) control.
My heart breaks for the hundreds of thousands of children who may (or may not) have the camp experience this summer that they are so looking forward to – especially for those (like our campers) who face such difficult challenges at home. My heart breaks for the thousands of young adults who are anticipating, but uncertain, about their summer roles at camps across our country. And my heart breaks for the many year-round staff who have invested so much to prepare for what might be, or might not be.
And yet, I am not troubled.
In John 14, Jesus is speaking to his closest, most committed followers. He has just broken the news to them that he will be denied, betrayed, and crucified. They, like us, had seen what they thought might be changing right before their very eyes. And they, like us faced tremendous uncertainty.
“Lord, where are you going?” Peter had asked in John 13:36. No direct answer.
“How can we know the way?” Thomas asked in John 14:5. And again, Jesus’ answer was not what he was looking for.
“How is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Judas asked in verse 22, expecting, perhaps, to hear some plan for a political victory… and again, not getting the answer he wanted to hear.
But Jesus offered an answer in John 14:1, and again in verse 27. He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”
It was an invitation by the Savior, not to forget about the struggles of today, but to trust in his promise for tomorrow. In the original language, Jesus was reminding them not to get unsettled by doubts deep in their spirit.
And he offered an alternative.
In verse 1, “Believe in God; believe also in me.” The answer to a troubled heart, is confident trust in who God is, and in his Son, Jesus Christ. Together, they have prepared a place in eternity, and a way to get there, for those who would trust in Christ alone for salvation. Notice, Jesus does not offer them comfort or relief in their present world or circumstances, but hope in their eternal circumstance.
And in verse 27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” because the way to find freedom from a troubled heart, is to experience the peace of Christ, given to you. A phrase or two later, Jesus adds, “neither let them be afraid,” implying, I believe, that the true opposite of peace (and the expression of a troubled heart) is fear.
So whether we face an unseen enemy in the form of a virus, or in the form of the spiritual forces of evil, we don’t need to fear. And, whether we have the answers we need, or not, we should not let our hearts be troubled.
Believe in God; believe also in Christ.
His peace he has left with you, and his peace he has given to you.