John 14 - The Life Recovery Bible

14:1-4 We receive lasting comfort by putting our trust in God. Sometimes God gives us immediate deliverance from a painful situation. More often, he walks with us as we struggle with problems that never seem to end. Our struggles may be direct consequences of our past mistakes; they may be the result of other people’s failures. God allows us to experience such trying circumstances to build character in us and strengthen our faith. When we place our trust in Jesus, we receive his peace in this life and the promise of a home with him in eternity.

14:5-11 Faith in Jesus is the only way to truly know God and receive the meaningful life that God wants for each of us. Despite living with Jesus for many months, Thomas and Philip did not yet know God through his Son, Jesus. Many people know about God and Jesus Christ, but they don’t know God personally. Genuine faith is personal and relational and based upon the truths about God found in Scripture. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life for anyone going through recovery. He has the power to forgive our sins, help us overcome our addiction, and give us a new life.

14:27 Many of us are dealing with stress and anxiety, grief and loss; we long for peace of mind and heart. So did the early disciples—they were about to lose their best friend and their Messiah. Their souls were indeed troubled, like many of us recovering from the loss of a job, a spouse, or children, or from a chemical addiction. They were looking for something to fill the void. Yet Jesus said he was leaving them with wholesome, fulfilling peace—shalom—unlike worldly peace, which is merely an absence of conflict. God can bring us peace even in the midst of our troubles (see 16:33).