The Troubled Heart
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"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
From whose lips do these tender words fall "like rain upon the mown grass"? Whose heart has such intimate knowledge of my need, and such profound sympathy with my weakness, as thus to meet both with the grace of His exceeding love?
It could be no other than "Jesus Christ Himself," my gracious Lord and Master, who thus speaks, and I shall do well to ponder each weighty sentence as I listen to His loving voice.
"Let not your heart be troubled." Dear Lord, these words of Yours, though so sweet, are imperative. They are a command, and should be instantly obeyed. Perhaps I have never before looked upon them in this light, never realized that, in carrying about within me a troubled spirit, I am acting in direct disobedience to Your bidding!"
"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law." Say the words over again to me, dear Lord! Speak "as one having authority," and, with Your gracious command, issue also the mighty power which will enable me to fulfill it. How often must I have grieved You by my lack of trust in Your tender love and care! How often must You have marveled at my foolishness, in attempting to bear burdens which might have been cast at Your feet!
"Let not your heart be troubled." Truly, I hear a grave note of rebuke and disappointment mingling with the music of these sweet words on my Lord's lips. It may indeed be so, dear Master, for after all that You have done and said — my heart should never be troubled. I ought not to "let" it be afraid. And yet how soon does fear overtake the steps of joyful assurance! How quickly do I pass out of the light of Your presence, into the deep shadow cast by the mountain of my sin!
Lord, help me to reason with myself about this, for a few moments, or rather, say unto me, "Come now, and let us reason together," for then I know that Your infinite love will conclusively silence my fears, and hush all the disquietude of my soul.
Why should my heart be troubled? Is it on account of the overwhelming sense of sin and of unworthiness which sometimes threatens to crush all the spiritual energy out of my life? Then, I have but to turn again to "the fountain of blood", and there see all my iniquities pardoned — because laid upon the Sin-bearer; all my guilt forgiven — because He suffered in my stead. Can I keep a troubled heart — when He died that I might have peace through believing? Can I have trusted Him with my soul's salvation — and yet permit myself to doubt whether He has truly saved me?
Why should my heart be troubled? Is it the things which are seen and temporal, which are distressing me? The cares of this life, the struggle for daily bread, perhaps, or if not that, the thousand vexations and disappointments which are the lot of our poor humanity?
Come again to your dear Lord, my soul, and bring to His feet all that perplexes and grieves you. You will surely hear Him say, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid; all your sorrows are known to Me, and I am guiding and directing all that concerns you. Is it more difficult to trust My love in earthly ills — than for eternal joys?"
Why should my heart be troubled or afraid? There is nothing on earth or in Hell, which can harm a soul who believes in Jesus. Every fear is put to flight — by His perfect love. Even the fear of death — so great a bondage in some lives — is lifted quite away — when "God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Blessed Lord, help me to be obedient to Your command, and to receive meekly Your well-deserved rebuke, glorifying You henceforth in my daily life by a restful faith, which nothing can disturb or dismay! The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose — ought never to know trouble or fear.
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