A Troubled Heart
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1)
We all know how central the heart is to the body. It is so significant for our health, that failure to care for, maintain, and protect the heart results in 17 million Americans dying each year from heart-related diseases.
But as central as the heart is to our physical well-being, it is even greater for our spiritual well-being. For when the heart experiences shock and sadness, troubles and trauma, hurt and heartache, it can weigh us down mentally and emotionally, and if left untreated, it can literally tear us apart.
It’s why so many people suffer from depression. It’s why so many people wrestle with anxiety, fear, and worry, because they have conditions of the heart that have gone unchecked. It’s no wonder that in one of Jesus’ last earthly conversations with His disciples, he spoke to them about caring for the heart.
He says to them in our text, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). The Greek word for heart here is the word “kardia” where we get words like cardiac and cardiologist. But the Greek word for heart is more than a mere reference to the physical organ of the body. It refers to the internal essence of a person, the seat of one’s decision making, the control center of one’s life.
Jesus went on to talk about the heart in the context of having a troubled heart. The word translated “troubled” means agitated. It refers to a deep internal disruption or mental pain. It’s like a war or battle within, and Jesus is telling the disciples then and us now not to allow the negative circumstances around you, things that have agitated you, or situations that cause anxiety create conflict and tension within you. For if you do, and you let your troubled heart go unchecked, more problems will arise.
My prayer for you is that you would examine your heart and care for it not just physically, but spiritually as well. Don’t remain in a troubled state, but let the Lord put your heart at ease today.
We all know how central the heart is to the body. It is so significant for our health, that failure to care for, maintain, and protect the heart results in 17 million Americans dying each year from heart-related diseases.
But as central as the heart is to our physical well-being, it is even greater for our spiritual well-being. For when the heart experiences shock and sadness, troubles and trauma, hurt and heartache, it can weigh us down mentally and emotionally, and if left untreated, it can literally tear us apart.
It’s why so many people suffer from depression. It’s why so many people wrestle with anxiety, fear, and worry, because they have conditions of the heart that have gone unchecked. It’s no wonder that in one of Jesus’ last earthly conversations with His disciples, he spoke to them about caring for the heart.
He says to them in our text, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). The Greek word for heart here is the word “kardia” where we get words like cardiac and cardiologist. But the Greek word for heart is more than a mere reference to the physical organ of the body. It refers to the internal essence of a person, the seat of one’s decision making, the control center of one’s life.
Jesus went on to talk about the heart in the context of having a troubled heart. The word translated “troubled” means agitated. It refers to a deep internal disruption or mental pain. It’s like a war or battle within, and Jesus is telling the disciples then and us now not to allow the negative circumstances around you, things that have agitated you, or situations that cause anxiety create conflict and tension within you. For if you do, and you let your troubled heart go unchecked, more problems will arise.
My prayer for you is that you would examine your heart and care for it not just physically, but spiritually as well. Don’t remain in a troubled state, but let the Lord put your heart at ease today.
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