Don’t Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

 

by Debbie McDaniel, crosswalk.com

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1

Sometimes we face circumstances in life that are just out of our control. No amount of our own planning and effort can make it better, or could have even prevented it from occurring. Hard things happen. We feel at a loss in how to fix it all. Sometimes it seems too broken. We may try hard to regain some sense of order, but life can still feel unbalanced, uncertain, even chaotic, because of the pressures that cling too tightly.

Jesus Himself understood these pressures. Over and over in His Word, He reminds us not to worry, not to fear, not to be “troubled” in our hearts.

And on the heels of the Last Supper, before His difficult journey to the cross, Christ offers comfort to His disciples, for He knew what lay ahead. He knew the trials they would all soon face. He could have said so many things in that moment, but these are the words He chose then, and the words that have such power for us still today:

“Do not let your hearts (inmost part, center of your spiritual life and physical being), be troubled (agitated, restless, disturbed). Trust (believe, to have full confidence) in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1

4 Truths from this verse to help us live wisely:

– Many around us will have troubled hearts in this world, troubled souls, but Jesus reminds us, don’t let “your” heart be troubled. Don’t follow the crowd, stand apart, for we know where our true peace and security are found.

– Take care of your “heart” for it is “the fountain and seat of all the thoughts, passions, affections, and purposes” in our lives. Our hearts compel us in every action, thought, and decision. He reminds us to guard our hearts for “everything we do flows from it.”

– Don’t be “troubled.” Sounds easy enough, but quite possibly the most difficult thing in the world. How can we not be troubled when facing huge trials, loss, illness, uncertainty? The only answer lies in Him, and it’s how He ends this verse.

– “Trust. Believe.” Have full confidence in God, in Christ. For He is the answer for our troubles, every single one. He is our help for each need that we face. He knows our road, the one ahead, and also the tough one we may have just passed through, for He is with us every step. This world is not all we have. This one may be riddled with obstacles, potholes, and even dangerous cliffs. Often we find ourselves struggling just to stay the course.

But we can have hope, still. Right in the very midst of it, in the tough stuff, in the battle. For He is secure. He is trustworthy. He is faithful.

And He has much better, and great blessing, still in store…

Peace.