Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

These words of Jesus to His disciples are indeed precious. He had just told them that He would be betrayed and would be leaving them. It was a very poignant time.

The disciples did not like the idea of Jesus leaving them, especially in such a manner as this. They did not want to see Him betrayed; they did not want to see Him go. They loved Him and had come to need Him greatly. He gave them purpose. He gave their lives meaning. His presence among them gave them peace, happiness and courage.

Now He tells them He will be leaving . . . and they are very troubled. Peter was especially troubled because Jesus had just told him that he would deny Him thrice. Peter did not want to believe it of himself, but he knew that Jesus was never wrong. How his heart must have sunk within him as those words reached his ears. How his pulse must have increased, as a man trapped or bound with chains.

It was a very dark time for them all. Jesus would soon be crucified, and they would all be scattered in fright as their world was turned upside down.
Many today are greatly troubled. The world has gone insane, and tyrants abound. God’s people are sorely vexed on every side and many are being persecuted. It seems to many as though our Lord has withdrawn Himself and cannot be found, and they are greatly troubled.

Dear reader, in all the trouble please remember the above words of Christ to His disciples. There are indeed hard days ahead, but our Lord means to encourage us with these sweet words, and to give us a hope and peace within our troubled hearts.

Jesus did not stay in the tomb. He arose from the dead, and the same disciples who had been so troubled that night rejoiced greatly. And before He went back to heaven, Jesus assured them that He would not leave them comfortless, but that He would send His Holy Spirit.

This He has done, and that precious Holy Spirit is there to comfort us. He will guide us through the darkness and will land us safely on the other side, where the wicked cease from troubling and where the weary will finally be at rest. He will make all things new, and we will live in the light of His countenance forever. It won’t be long, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”