Troubled Hearts

“Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).  “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” John 14:27).  In these very familiar verses our Lord commands us not to allow our hearts to be troubled by worry, grief or sorrow.  That is one command no one would argue with!  We only make our present circumstances more difficult to bear when we compound them with anxiety and fear.  “Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you” states the command in a different way, and enforces it with a promise {Psalm 55:22).  Thomas Manton put it this way, “It is not only our privilege that we may, but our duty that we must, disburden ourselves of these distrustful fears and cares and sorrows.”  A privilege is an advantage or favor granted as a special benefit.  Christians certainly are privileged to be able to carry every burden to God in prayer.  Our duty is what we are morally obligated to do.  It is a ceaseless wonder that all our Lord commands us to do is in our best interest.  He never commands anything that will be harmful.  Now, in order to cast all of our anxiety upon the Lord, we must be assured that He sincerely cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  Manton affirmed that God “is more solicitous for your well-being than you can be yourselves.”   Jesus cared for His disciples that would remain on earth after He ascended into heaven, and provided for all their needs by promising to send the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).  More on this tomorrow.