Text: John 12:27-29

‘“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.” Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”’

In the face of today’s global crisis, there’s so much uncertainty, fear and trouble in the air. But as God’s chosen people, how should we respond? What should be our attitude?

Let’s learn from Jesus:

1. Be Honest About Your Feelings
   There’s a false spirituality that makes people deny the reality of what’s happening around them or makes them deny their deepest feelings and struggles. You must not be like that. Looking at Jesus, in more than one occasion, He confessed that His heart was troubled. In one case, He said He was “exceedingly sorrowful even unto death.” He owned up to an inner reality He was feeling. Jesus was the most spiritual Man but also the most authentic Man. He didn’t shy away from the reality of His feelings. He owned them.
   Be authentic. Be honest with your deepest reality. If you’re troubled, don’t be afraid to say so, and confront your fears.
2. Seek God’s Glory When Troubled
   When troubled, Jesus did not just talk about His feelings. He prayed. Don’t rant everywhere about your troubles. Jesus did not let His feeling of trouble make Him act irresponsibly or act faithless. He looked to the Father. Despite His feelings, His attitude was for His Father to be glorified. While He knew that this hour was troubling, more important to Him was that God would be glorified in it. This is the right way to respond when things happen that seek to destabilize or demoralize you.
   When troubled, pray. Look beyond your trouble. Pray that God would use the troubling situation to glorify Himself. Seek His glory — even in your trouble.
3. Listen for God’s Voice
   In the midst of a crisis and as you seek God’s glory — most likely, God will speak. Listen carefully so that you can hear and correctly interpret what heaven is saying to you. When Jesus was troubled and He prayed, the Father spoke an answer. And although Jesus clearly understood what God said, others around Him didn’t. Some said, “It thundered.” It’s possible for God to be speaking to you in your time of crisis but all you hear is His thunder. Or you might miss His quiet voice because you want Him to thunder. That’ll be very sad. Stop running to men to speak to you in times of trouble. Quieten your inner man and listen. God’s Spirit will speak to your spirit.
   Because you’re committed to seeking His glory even in your trouble, God will surely speak to you. Try to listen attentively for that quiet voice of reassurance and revelation.

Conclusion

True spirituality does not deny authentic feelings but places those feelings before God’s altar. Be authentic. Pray about your fears and troubles. Present them to God. And let God be the One who gives you the peace and direction that no Man can ever give you. Selah.