Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

In an age of uncertainty and anxiety, this admonition of our Lord is quite needful. We live in a society in which many are addicted to pills: one to sleep at night, another to calm them through the day, and yet another to relax them in the evening. But as Christians, we should have the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). And the admonition of the Master is, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

Don’t be troubled Concerning the Conflict. There is a battle raging but let not your heart be troubled. It is true that the enemy is strong. Paul reminds us that: “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Our enemy is very powerful. We know also that engagement is sure. If we are not presently engaged in combat with this enemy, we soon will be. He is no respecter of persons and will seek to attack us when we are weak, weary, or off-guard. But remember that the equipment is sufficient. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13). If we will prepare ourselves by taking up the armor that God has provided for those who are enlisted in His army, we will discover that we are protected against the “wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). In God’s armory there is never an equipment shortage, nor has there ever been an equipment malfunction. But the armor is only effective against the enemy if we who are soldiers will take it up. Finally, remember that the end is settled. We are more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37). Trust in the Lord and stand firm. You are on the winning side!

Let not your heart be troubled Concerning Cares. “Be careful for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). In other words, don’t allow your heart to be troubled and filled with worry. Anxiety is unnecessary. Jesus reminded us in His Sermon on the Mount that the Heavenly Father cares for the fowl of the air and the flowers of the field, and shall He not much more care for those who are His children? (Matthew 6:25-30). Anxiety is unworthy. When we as believers spend our time in fretting and worrying, we are disturbed, the Father is dishonored, and the Bible is discredited before the eyes of a watching world. In fact, anxiety is unprofitable. Most of the things we worry ourselves about never come to pass. We must heed the advice of the songwriter E. H. Joy who wrote:

All your anxiety, all your care,
Bring to the Mercy seat, leave it there;
Never a burden He cannot bear,
Never a Friend like Jesus.

And may I remind you, let not your heart be troubled Concerning the Coming Days. When Jesus’ disciples asked Him about the end of the world, He responded by saying: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled” (Matthew 24:6). If we were to examine the Scriptures, we would see that there are many things that will unfold in these last days. These will be days of sensual pleasure. “For men shall be…. lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (II Timothy 3:2, 4). The last days will be a time of sexual perversion (Romans 1:21-27; Luke 17:28). These will also be days of strong peril. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (II Timothy 3:1). And knowing these things, it is easy for us to allow our hearts to be troubled and anxious. But we must also remember that the last days are days of a sure promise – Jesus is coming again! In the verses following this great admonition to “Let not your heart be troubled,” Jesus went on to say, “I will come again” (John 14:3). Paul reminded the believers at Thessalonica that, “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Marvelous message we bring,
Glorious carol we sing,
Wonderful word of the King;
Jesus is coming again!

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Craig Burcham, GSBC Faculty

Bro. Burcham served as the Chairman of the Bible Department at Golden State Baptist College before answering the call to pastor the Mountain Vista Baptist Church in Sierra Vista, AZ. Pastor Burcham travels each week to teach the next generation at GSBC. Before coming to GSBC, he served as a missionary with his family in Japan for several years and then pastored in Missouri.