|
Title: “My Soul Is Troubled”
Theme: Glorifying God in time of trouble – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Object: A worry stone. If you can’t find one in nature, they can be found in many gift shops. I have also seen some squeezable “stress relievers” that could be used.
Scripture: “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.John 12:27-29 (NIV)
I don’t know where I got this stone. Perhaps I found it on the ground or maybe someone gave it to me. I have had it for a long time, but had forgotten about it until I found it a few days ago in a desk drawer in my office. As you can see, it is small and flat and fits into my hand in such a way that I can rub it with my thumb. Many people carry a stone like this in their pocket. They call it a “worry stone.” Whenever they are troubled about something, they just reach into their pocket and rub the worry stone. They believe that rubbing the smooth surface of the stone gives them a peaceful feeling and helps them to quit worrying about their troubles.
I don’t carry this worry stone in my pocket. That doesn’t mean that I never have any trouble in my life, it is just that I don’t find that rubbing on a stone helps keep me from worrying about the troubles in my life. If we really want to know what we should do when we face trouble in our life, we should look at what Jesus did.
Just a few days before he was to be crucified, Jesus said, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Jesus knew that he was going to die on the cross. He could have asked God to save him. Instead, he only asked that his Father’s name would be glorified.
Why do troubles come into our life? I believe that troubles come for the very reason that Jesus said — so that God’s name will be glorified. I have known people who followed the example of Jesus when they faced trouble in their life. I have even known people who faced death with such courage and faith that God’s name was glorified. Wouldn’t it be pleasing to God if all of us faced trouble in such a way that His name is glorified?
Dear Father, we all face trouble in our daily life. Instead of asking you to take them away, let us ask that you help us to face those troubles in such a way that your name will be glorified. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. |