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FIRST-PERSON: Do not let your heart be troubled

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NASHVILLE (BP) – Jesus’ words are instructive and inspiring. Never miss them and do not let your familiarity with these words lose their impact for your life.

“Do not let your heart be troubled.” (John 14:1)

Jesus informed his disciples in John 13 about His soon departure from this earth. He had just:

Jesus’ actions and conversation that evening were, at the least, troubling.

This is why Jesus said: Do not let your heart be troubled.

A choice we make

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We are living in troubling times. The grief of losing people we love is gripping thousands upon thousands across our nation today.

Over these past 18 months, there is even a level of grief that each of us has experienced in the loss of our own normality of life.

In this fallen world that is filled with sin and evil, there are many people who live with a level of grief each day because they have suffered the loss of their human dignity due to the unfair, undeserved, evil treatment of others against them.

Undoubtedly, each of us has our own troubles each day. I am reminded of Jesus’ words in His Sermon on the Mount when He told His followers not to worry about tomorrow because it will care for itself. Then He stated these profound words in the final sentence of Matthew 6:34: Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus’ own heart was troubled at times. He understood life, the challenges of humanity, and sympathizes with our weakness.

Jesus knew it was a choice that each of us would need to make daily and even many times throughout each day.

Do not let your heart be troubled.

A challenge we face

There is an unquestionable challenge each of us face living in this evil and sinful world daily. Later in Peter’s life, he testified of this reality he discovered personally: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

The challenge we face today is that this world and the culture we live in comes at us from every angle of life and does all it can to create agitation, constantly stirring up things. The real-time news world we live in appears to be acceptable at times, but it stirs up groups of people against one another and person against person.

When Jesus used the word, “troubled,” He knew it meant to stir up or to agitate. Our world stays stirred up about everything and agitated about all things, creating an anxiety that is immeasurable. This undermining scheme of Satan leads to stealing the joy of the Lord from us.

When we think of water, we imagine it, at times, to be peaceful. The wind is not blowing, the water is calm, and the scene is inviting. Then, there are other times when it appears to be stormy. The wind is blowing, the water and waves are rolling, and the stirring of the waters is troubling.

We have to make a choice daily, and even many times throughout the day, not to let ourselves get caught up in all the drama of this culture and moment, becoming agitated by the smallest things and stirred up and worried over all things.

This is why Jesus said: Do not let your heart be troubled.

A conclusive answer

There is only one way to put an end to the doubts we face each day.

Jesus did not only tell us: Do not let your heart be troubled.

Jesus continued with His conclusive answer on how to choose each day to not let your heart be troubled.

He said: Believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14:1)

Jesus’ conclusive answer to how we choose to not let our hearts be troubled is found in this phrase: Believe in God, believe also in Me.

Trust in God daily and throughout each day. It is a choice we make in these challenging days.

Do not let your heart be troubled.

Now is the time to lead.