Did you know that Jesus’ heart was troubled at times? In fact, the Bible tells us of three instances where Jesus was troubled. When Jesus’ was confronted with Mary’s grief at the death of her brother, we read in John 11:33: “When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with here, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.” When confronted with his impending death, Jesus said in John 12:27: “Now my soul is deeply troubled.” And when Jesus was speaking about Judas’ betrayal, we read in John 13:21: “Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!” So, if we could sum up what troubled Jesus the most, it might be three things: death, grief of His people, and unbelief (or betrayal).
Now, let’s move forward to what Jesus said to His disciples at the last supper. He said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. TRUST in God, and TRUST also in me” (John 14:1). I don’t believe He’s saying that having a troubled heart is wrong (remember… He had a troubled heart at times). But it becomes wrong when we let those troubles consume us, or when we allow those troubles to take us into deep places of despair, or when we allow those troubles to cause us to worry or fear. At this supper, Jesus was looking into troubled faces… He had been speaking about things they didn’t understand and the atmosphere was more serious… more intense… than at other Passover meals they had shared with Jesus. It’s no wonder they were troubled.
Here’s another thing… Satan can spot a troubled heart a hundred miles away. And he will use it if we’re not careful. Jesus understood this and He also knew what it was like to have a troubled heart, so He gives them an antidote for their troubled hearts… TRUST. It’s like He’s saying… “Boys, trust in what you know about God… His sovereignty, His power, His attributes. And trust in what I’ve said to you and shown you. Trust in My promises, My love, My mercy, My presence.
What a great principle for us. We get easily troubled, right? Our hearts fill with trouble about the unbelief of our loved ones, the path our leaders are going down, the wickedness in our world… abortion, murder, abuse… the corruption in government, and the deception that has seeped into the church. In fact, there are MANY things that trouble our hearts. But if we’re not careful, those troubling thoughts can carry us away into unbelief, confusion, and fear. And our troubles can cause anger to rise within us.
Jesus knew that the troubling hearts of His disciples would soon get worse, so He said TRUST Me. It’s not easy, though, is it? Here’s one way you and I can put this into practice… when your heart is filled with worry, anxiety, or fear… close your eyes and think about Jesus. Fix your thoughts on what you know about Him… what He has promised. He’s promised to hold you, keep you safe, walk with you, and give you everything you need. I get nervous when my husband drives… he drives very aggressively and he’s also impatient. So, to combat those anxious thoughts when he’s driving and I’m in the passenger seat, I close my eyes and trust in what I know… He wants what I want… to get to our destination safely. With my eyes closed, I trust. That might not be a good illustration, but the principle is good… focus on what you know to be true because truth always prevails over lies. Do you need to TRUST more today? Do you need to combat troubling thoughts? Then close your eyes and TRUST in God and TRUST in Jesus.