Troubled Hearts – Day 15

Troubled hearts – ever have them?  Do you ever find yourself just consumed with issues or troubles or life problems?  Our mind can become overloaded and it affects our heart.  When we are continually worried, our hearts take a beating (see what I did there?).  It can be difficult to trust.  It can be almost impossible to love.  It can feel hopeless.  Our hearts can be troubled with so many things.  

It can easily happen.  Sometimes it comes on without us even noticing.  And then, we take a moment and realize all is not well.  Something isn’t right.  Our hearts are troubled by the things which have occupied our minds.  We are not the first to deal with this.  Jesus is preparing his disciples for a time when he wouldn’t be physically with them any longer.  For the disciples, Jesus was everything.  They had given up their entire lives to follow.  Their daily schedules revolved around his daily schedule.  They ate with him and spent time with him nearly every moment.  What would they do when he wasn’t there?  And how could this be fair?  And who wanted this anyway?

Jesus tells them not once, but twice recorded in the same conversation – “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”  He saw it in them.  He felt it from them.  They were filled with fear and the ideas Jesus was presenting caused anxiety, all leading to troubled hearts.  But Jesus tells them they do need to fear.  They do not need to have troubled hearts.  He says this because he understands how they feel, but they don’t understand who he is.  They didn’t fully understand God was with them and would always be with them.  They didn’t get how God would provide a path for peace.  They didn’t see how God didn’t need to be physically with them, he would be with them in so many other ways.  They didn’t fully comprehend how the Creator of the universe was taking care of them.

Neither do we.  When our hearts are troubled, we tend to forget who fills our hearts.  When we are afraid, we can easily look for safety in places other than with God.  It happens.  So here’s your reminder…Jesus said it – Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Instead, may he fill your hearts with his presence and his love – where there will no room for today’s troubles.