“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1
When Jesus told His disciples that he was going back to heaven and leaving them behind to do His great commission work, they were understandably afraid and perplexed. After three years of following Jesus and experiencing the greatness of Jesus’ ministry, they could not fathom life without Jesus. With Jesus around, they saw wonder-working miracles and knew they were safe and secured. Jesus gave them a purpose and turned their inconsequential lives into conduits for divine works.
The disciples were troubled because they did not know how they were going to live out their faith in the world. I’m sure, some of them worried about how the religious leaders were going to treat them- will they be arrested and crucified like Jesus? All these uncertainties made the disciples' hearts troubled.
The heart of many disciples of Jesus is troubled in today’s world. We are troubled by the incessant mass shootings, the division, the natural disasters that are wreaking havoc on our planet, the spiritual crises in the Church of Jesus Christ, the growing number of cancer cases, the growing disparity between the rich and the poor, and the unfortunate racial tension that exist in our country.
In today’s text, Jesus took the time to comfort His disciples so they would remain faithful, fearless, and focused. He assured them that He would not forsake them, even after His ascension to heaven. The Lord promised them His Holy Spirit as their protector, enabler, counselor, and the one who will help them navigate through the hardships of life as they do His great commission work.
Because of the Holy Spirit, believers should not let their hearts be troubled. The Holy Spirit is our encourager and our supplier. He comforts us in times of grief. When we are assailed by the trials of life, we should turn our burdens to Christ and trust He will deliver us through His Holy Spirit.
Believers should remain confident that God will take care of them. Therefore, we should not be dismayed or troubled as we journey through life with Jesus on our side. Jesus did not promise the disciples a trouble-free life. On the contrary, He told them, “You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9). Yet He promised to be with them.
Life on earth cannot be trouble-free. James 1:12 tells us: Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” The apostle Paul exhorts us to “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
“Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Then, our hearts will not be troubled by the burdens of life. But instead, we will continue to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Questions for Personal Reflection
What do you do when your heart is troubled?
How does the word of God help us to deal with troubled hearts?
Prayer- Blessed Lord, I thank you for your comforting great and your peace that passes all understanding. Please help me to seek your guidance through your Holy Spirit when I am overwhelmed by the issues of life. Please give comfort to those whose hearts are troubled and help them to experience your unfailing grace.
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