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Troubled Heart

            Jesus’ heart was troubled because Judas was to betray Him (John 13:21).  Evidently hopeless eternities are worth a troubled heart.  Later on that same night He tells the disciples not to allow their hearts to be troubled and gave them a reason why not.  Read His words from John 14:1-4:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.

I read these words with a troubled heart, and I realized Jesus was speaking these words to people who would all face an untimely and painful death, undoubtedly troubling experiences.  In the huge scope of spiritual reality these words are amazingly true and even somewhat understandable.  The reason Jesus gave for not letting your heart be troubled was that He was going ahead of us to create a heavenly destination where all the pains, sorrows and harsh realities of this world will no longer be.  The place was a place prepared for us, and the place has a way to get there. 

Jesus knew they too would experience a troubled heart.  His own heart was troubled during the night He spoke these words.  Troubled hearts abound in our world.  There is no shortage of sources for troubled hearts in our day.  Troubled hearts must be tolerated here in this world, but there will be no experience of a troubled heart when we consider our future.  In fact, Paul, who survived numerous days of trouble in this world stated: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). 

If you are facing a troubled heart, the way to release the pressure and anxiety is to consider the higher spiritual reality.  Hebrews tells us that is how Jesus Himself did it.  Hebrews  12:10 tells us:  Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The cross was certainly more than trouble.  It required endurance, as the Hebrew writer points out.  How do you get through troubling, enduring experiences?  You take on the higher spiritual picture of the joy that is set before us.

Today’s troubles are often easily dismissed and hardly seem worth the way we let them affect us.  Some troubles are deep and penetrating and become life altering.  All troubles can be turned over to God.  He is troubled by our troubles so much that He asks us to trust Him that there will be an end to trouble in our future with Him.

Copyright © 2014.  Deborah R. Newman teatimeforyoursoul.com  All Rights Reserved.

 
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