John 14:1
"Let not your heart be troubled,
believe in God,
believe also in Me."
The Troubled Heart
Jesus understands that everyone has a troubled heart, which is why he addressed the subject. Of course, the word, "heart," does not mean that muscle in our chest. Just as when we say, "I love you with all my heart," the word meant and means, our minds, our emotions. We all have troubled minds from time to time, and Jesus teaches here on how to obtain relief for our troubled minds and emotions.
The Greek word for "troubled" in this verse means disturbed, frightened, stirred up. There are hundreds, even thousands of external things in the world, from people to events, that disturb and upset us. Likewise, there are internal things going on in our minds that stir us up. There is plenty in our lives, outside and inside, to take away our peace, good thoughts and feelings. Let's think about some of these, for they are both real and imagined.
The Greek word for "troubled" in this verse means disturbed, frightened, stirred up. There are hundreds, even thousands of external things in the world, from people to events, that disturb and upset us. Likewise, there are internal things going on in our minds that stir us up. There is plenty in our lives, outside and inside, to take away our peace, good thoughts and feelings. Let's think about some of these, for they are both real and imagined.
If you are employed, you need to keep your job. If you are unemployed, you have family and bills to pay to survive. In the midst of such basic concerns are people. Many of them could care less about you, because they have their own lives and troubles. Children get sick, parents get old and need help, a hundred things happen that are very real and bring pressure on us.
How we handle life also is tied to what is going on inside our heads. If we were blessed enough to have two parents to raise us, they did what they could to raise us. Some did better than others, and a few were poor parents indeed. There is a great difference between the child raised hearing, "You are so precious, you are special, and talented," and between the one who grew up with, "I wish you had never been born, you've been nothing but trouble, you're never going to amount to anything!"
Our inner mental and emotional resources, healthy or unhealthy, were shaped long ago. They do not determine how we manage our present or future, but they do influence us. Some of us are more easily troubled than others. Some of us have more innate strength than others. The very same external events affect us differently in our mental and emotional stability, than our neighbors or even our family members.
Control
How we handle life also is tied to what is going on inside our heads. If we were blessed enough to have two parents to raise us, they did what they could to raise us. Some did better than others, and a few were poor parents indeed. There is a great difference between the child raised hearing, "You are so precious, you are special, and talented," and between the one who grew up with, "I wish you had never been born, you've been nothing but trouble, you're never going to amount to anything!"
Our inner mental and emotional resources, healthy or unhealthy, were shaped long ago. They do not determine how we manage our present or future, but they do influence us. Some of us are more easily troubled than others. Some of us have more innate strength than others. The very same external events affect us differently in our mental and emotional stability, than our neighbors or even our family members.
Control
Many of us are victimized by our troubled minds and emotions. When things happen in the world, or we replay old memories, doubts, and fears in our minds, things get out of control. Too often, they just keep on wearing us down, or finally, they wear themselves out, until the next round.
Jesus commands, "Let not your hearts be troubled." By this He clearly says to you, "You have enough control to make the decision not to be troubled." Many of us do not believe this. We read this command, then answer Jesus with The List. We are just like Jesus' disciples in the New Testament. Jesus' commands are not enough. We have our own negative answers, as if Jesus really does not know fully precisely what we have on our plates.
Jesus commands, "Let not your hearts be troubled." By this He clearly says to you, "You have enough control to make the decision not to be troubled." Many of us do not believe this. We read this command, then answer Jesus with The List. We are just like Jesus' disciples in the New Testament. Jesus' commands are not enough. We have our own negative answers, as if Jesus really does not know fully precisely what we have on our plates.
Nevertheless, Jesus commanded what He did. He says to us, YOU have enough control, enough power in your possession, NOT to have your mind and emotions troubled. There is no negation. There is no exception to the rule. We have a simple decision to make. We have to ask ourselves, "Do I believe I have the power to control my troubled mind, or not?"
The truth is, millions of people who say they are followers of Jesus, who say He is their Lord and Master, decide Jesus does not know what He is commanding. They decide their minds are troubled, and there is nothing to be done about it. They either say, or show by their actions, they believe they must continue to be in and under the mental and emotional burden they have. So the power Jesus says they have, they refuse to exercise. Millions of Christians thereby cheat themselves of the solution to their mental and emotional troubles, by their lack of faith. They may continue to attend worship services, but they go into their congregations with heavy hearts, and leave in the same condition.
Relief = Belief
Jesus told us what to do to find relief for our troubled minds: "Believe in God, believe also in Me." When we are unemployed, this seems like a pretty weak answer, given what we face. We may say, "Believe!? I believe! So what will that do for my house being repossessed, or my kids who need food, now that my unemployment has run out?!"
We have the power to choose faith in God, or not. When we change from focusing on our troubles and focus on God's care for us, our mental troubles are put into divine perspective. "Divine perspective?, we say, "What about the perspective of homelessness and loss of everything?!"
In Jesus' time, his command to believe in God, to believe in Him, sounded equally difficult. People were living under the rule of the Roman Empire. The Jews in his region had no legal rights. Their lives were daily at the risk of any kind of injustice, so long as Rome perpetrated it. Yes, their economy was different. People raised their food, had a trade, or did something to barter for existence. Yet there were a thousand things that put their lives, health, and welfare, at real risk.
We have the choice to trust our troubles with God, or not. If we decide to manage them on our own, without faith God knows where we are and what we face, the Devil can have his way with us. He will twist us around at will. If we decide to trust God, and leave our troubles at the foot of the Cross, then God's Holy Spirit can take our calmed mental and emotional waters and lead us in God's direction.
Experts in attitude management teach us that attitude has great power. You can have millions of dollars in the bank, yet decide life is meaningless, and harm yourself or others. Likewise, you can lose everything material yet, knowing God is in your corner, be given the peace of mind to do things you otherwise would not. Why? The Holy Spirit of God is within you, and will reveal ideas and options because God is active in your mind.
Minds in Christ
The New Testament has many teachings related to the mind. This essay will not quote them all. You, burdened reader, are asked to get out your exhaustive concordance--which has all the words of the Bible arranged in alphabetical order--and look these up yourself. You will find great relief and comfort to know that God is concerned about your mind. Jesus Christ is concerned about your mind. Nevertheless, it is good to quote at least one scripture. Perhaps this will whet your appetite to find more comfort.
The truth is, millions of people who say they are followers of Jesus, who say He is their Lord and Master, decide Jesus does not know what He is commanding. They decide their minds are troubled, and there is nothing to be done about it. They either say, or show by their actions, they believe they must continue to be in and under the mental and emotional burden they have. So the power Jesus says they have, they refuse to exercise. Millions of Christians thereby cheat themselves of the solution to their mental and emotional troubles, by their lack of faith. They may continue to attend worship services, but they go into their congregations with heavy hearts, and leave in the same condition.
Relief = Belief
Jesus told us what to do to find relief for our troubled minds: "Believe in God, believe also in Me." When we are unemployed, this seems like a pretty weak answer, given what we face. We may say, "Believe!? I believe! So what will that do for my house being repossessed, or my kids who need food, now that my unemployment has run out?!"
We have the power to choose faith in God, or not. When we change from focusing on our troubles and focus on God's care for us, our mental troubles are put into divine perspective. "Divine perspective?, we say, "What about the perspective of homelessness and loss of everything?!"
In Jesus' time, his command to believe in God, to believe in Him, sounded equally difficult. People were living under the rule of the Roman Empire. The Jews in his region had no legal rights. Their lives were daily at the risk of any kind of injustice, so long as Rome perpetrated it. Yes, their economy was different. People raised their food, had a trade, or did something to barter for existence. Yet there were a thousand things that put their lives, health, and welfare, at real risk.
We have the choice to trust our troubles with God, or not. If we decide to manage them on our own, without faith God knows where we are and what we face, the Devil can have his way with us. He will twist us around at will. If we decide to trust God, and leave our troubles at the foot of the Cross, then God's Holy Spirit can take our calmed mental and emotional waters and lead us in God's direction.
Experts in attitude management teach us that attitude has great power. You can have millions of dollars in the bank, yet decide life is meaningless, and harm yourself or others. Likewise, you can lose everything material yet, knowing God is in your corner, be given the peace of mind to do things you otherwise would not. Why? The Holy Spirit of God is within you, and will reveal ideas and options because God is active in your mind.
Minds in Christ
The New Testament has many teachings related to the mind. This essay will not quote them all. You, burdened reader, are asked to get out your exhaustive concordance--which has all the words of the Bible arranged in alphabetical order--and look these up yourself. You will find great relief and comfort to know that God is concerned about your mind. Jesus Christ is concerned about your mind. Nevertheless, it is good to quote at least one scripture. Perhaps this will whet your appetite to find more comfort.
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, your spiritual service of worship. Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. [Romans 12:1-2]
Whatever is happening to the rest of the United States, your mind can rest securely in the divine care and concern of God for you. Your mind not only can have peace. Your mind can be renewed to becomes stronger than it ever was, operating on your own power.
Note, however, that God wants you not to live merely in your inner psychological world. God wants you to get your entire being, your body included--speech, behaviors, your emotional affect shown to your family and others--involved in the sovereign leading of God. Present all you are as a "living and holy sacrifice."
In the Great Depression, and we are not yet in the Second Great Depression, there were families just like yours, or the families of others you know. The people then had to make the same decision you have today. Millions made their choice, and trusted God to give them what they needed. Many families later were able to tell how God gave them peace, kept their families together, and preserved their dignity and lives.
Your mind may have plenty of external facts to threaten you. It probably has. You feel isolated, but feelings are deceptive. God knows where you are. God knows the threats are flying in, to create fear and uncertainty. and God is ready to lead you through the mess. Do not let your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe in Jesus Christ, and find peace of mind.
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