John 14:1a Let not your heart be troubled:

Yesterday I encouraged you to get involved in fellowship and create caring bonds. Now today I say, do not be troubled. Sounds like double talk doesn’t it? It just sounds that way for the moment because I shifted subject content.

There is caring for the suffering of others in which you can see an opportunity for your loving concern to be of some help. The issue of the troubled heart is seen as a lack of faith. Jesus was leaving and they did not know what would become of themselves without Him.

A promise had been made and it was not properly understood. Our understanding is often imperfect. We see a problem but see no solution. We want to fix it, but do not know how. Our faith in God should activate our prayer life to address these issues. If there will be anything for us to do, the answer to that question will be found in prayer. If not, we must leave it up to God for His will is perfect.

Any time you have doubt, pray. Pray about the circumstances and pray for wisdom. God loves it when we ask for wisdom.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Rarely do you see God willing to answer prayers with such eager grace. God is often cautious in answering prayers yet with wisdom He is generous and eager to provide. We should take advantage of that promise.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

It is easy to rejoice. Many of us came to the Lord to get away from pain and here we are being asked to feel the pain of others. Fellowship means bonding, being part of other people’s lives and if you cannot feel for yourself what they are going thru, where is the bond?

We are not meant to go thru this life alone. Christ knows that and His call for us is a loving relationship, not just with Him but with each other. Some of us are a burden, some of us are carriers. One loves to let everyone know how much pain they are in while the others suffer silently.

Both extremes need fellowship. That means being honest about your condition and not making it more than is real. It is hard on everyone when you try and console one in pain and they only want attention and no one can lift them out of the dump. Job’s woes come to mind. Maybe his friend’s help wasn’t the best but they were there. They didn’t leave him alone.

Likewise no one can help if you suffer in silence. Fellowship means being connected and if one suffers, at least one other must feel your pain. Have you developed closeness to anyone? Is there at least one you can trust? If not, then you are not creating those bonds which the Lord urges us to make.

Fellowship is more than just singing together and listening to a sermon. You need to let people into your life and you into their lives.

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Ephesians 4:12-13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: