Do Not Be Troubled
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”
— John 14:1 (NIV)
In the passage above, Jesus is speaking with His disciples, preparing them for what is soon to come. As He shares difficult truths about His departure, the disciples become troubled and heavy-hearted. After walking with Him for over three years, the thought of Him leaving fills them with grief. Knowing their sorrow, Jesus gently encourages them: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He doesn’t want them to be fearful, anxious, or unsettled about what lies ahead. Instead, He reminds them that their belief—in God and in Him—is enough.
I remember a time when my sister-in-love was diagnosed with breast cancer and asked me to accompany her to her doctor’s appointments. Although it was one of the greatest honors, I found myself becoming anxious and overwhelmed every time we heard a new report. I would bring a list of questions, constantly asking the doctors why they couldn’t pursue a less aggressive treatment plan.
One day, as I prayed, the Holy Spirit gently prompted me to be still. He instructed me to take communion and to anoint us with oil before each appointment. That practice brought peace to my heart. It reminded me of God’s Word and His faithfulness. When we face difficult news, our flesh naturally wants to respond with worry or fear—but Jesus reminds us that when we believe in Him, we have no reason to be afraid. He is our defense and our warrior.
Today, my sister-in-love is cancer-free and doing well. And as we continue reading in Scripture, we see that although Jesus physically left His disciples for a time, there was great rejoicing at His return. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. No matter what we face, He is present, guiding us through.
Recently, I was on a call with a dear friend as we shared some of the challenges we were walking through. She said something that struck me deeply: “God reminded me that He already knew everything I was going to go through—and He knew exactly how I would respond.” Nothing is a surprise to our God.
Key Takeaways:
God knows exactly what we’re going through.
Our response is never a surprise to Him.
He invites us to let go of anything that troubles our hearts.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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