Jesus knew his disciples were unhappy at the prospect of his leaving them. To alleviate their sorrow, he told them: ‘Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.‘
Like the disciples, we often live troubled lives. We are so absorbed by everything we have to do or cope with that we often forget the truth that our destiny is heaven. This should be the true source of our joy. We were created by the Father to be his children. Our first sin took us out of the plan God designed for our good and blessing. Out of love for us, Jesus came to bring us back into the Father’s original plan. By his life, suffering, death and resurrection Jesus reconciled us to the Father. He took away the sins that separated us from him. He opened up the gates of heaven, closed against us by our sin, so we could enter into heaven itself.
We are on a journey to the Father. In faith we should keep our eyes fixed on heaven, longing and thirsting for it. Christ has prepared a place for us in his Father’s house. This hope can overcome all the troubles that burden our hearts and fill them with confidence, joy and peace.