“My soul is troubled.” We all know the feeling. But there is a way that leads from distress to comfort, and there is even help from a companion along the way. Following is a guideline in four steps based on the example set by Jesus.
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Photo: INA Argentina
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Photo: INA Argentina
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Photo: INA Argentina
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Photo: INA Argentina
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Photo: INA Argentina
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Photo: INA Argentina
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Photo: INA Argentina
“It happens quite often that we are troubled.” Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider is not immune to this either. “We experience pain in the most diverse ways.” Some have to deal with illness, death, and the loss of a loved one. Others have to deal with injustice or are worried about the future or are at odds with God. Let us follow the example set by Jesus.
And which example exactly? The one we find in 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. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’” This was the Bible text which the Chief Apostle used for a divine service he celebrated in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on 2 April 2017.
Pause and think
Already days before His death, Jesus knew what was about to happen. “Now my soul is troubled.” And He asked Himself the question: “What shall I say?” He did not immediately pray to God. He took time to think. And He allowed the Holy Spirit to work in His heart.”
Let us too take time to think before we pray. “It is a source of blessing when we go into ourselves and speak with the Holy Spirit. Because your heart already knows the answer. All we have to do is to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work.”
Listen
“Father, save Me from this hour?” As Son of God, Jesus had legions of angels at his beck and call who would have helped and protected Him. Instead he recalls and says, “But for this purpose I came to this hour.” The Holy Spirit in us tells us: “Remember the plan of salvation. Remember that you have a mission to fulfill. Your mission is to ensure that the glory of God is revealed today in the world. Your mission lies in showing people that Jesus is present.”
Understand
“And then we realise: the plan of salvation is much more important than my momentary feelings.” After all, once God fulfils His plan then everything is fine. It will lead us into eternal glory. And is that not our greatest wish?
Then our prayers change: “Father, glorify Your name!” This is how Jesus says it.
Experience
“Then a voice came from heaven.” God will respond. “We have received this promise from God: you will experience my glory,” the Chief Apostle said. This is something we can experience already today. “We can experience this in divine service when we celebrate Holy Communion, when we have intimate fellowship with God. It is a foretaste of eternal glory.”