Jan. 21 Application | ‘Untroubled Hearts’

By David Faust 

On the very troubling night before the crucifixion, Jesus promised to give his disciples peace. “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he said (John 14:1). Yet, that same evening he predicted, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). How can we reconcile those two verses? Is it possible to face our troubles with untroubled hearts? 

When the Lord said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he used the Greek word tarasso, which meant to stir up, disturb, or throw into confusion—the kind of distress that often arises inside our minds. To describe the troubles his followers will face, Jesus used a different word, thlipsis, which means oppression, affliction, or tribulation—the kind of trouble that comes from the outside. Thlipsis described the way winemakers pressed grapes to extract their juice. (It’s translated “hard pressed” in 2 Corinthians 8:13.) 

We should expect to face pressure from the outside, but we can have peace on the inside—the overall well-being the Hebrews called shalom.  

Troubled Times  

What do our souls need in troubled times? 

Faced with conflicting ideologies, beliefs, and lifestyles, we need to choose the right direction. According to the Federal Highway Administration, there are more than 4 million miles of paved public roads in the United States, plus countless miles of unpaved trails, backroads, and paths. Likewise, contemporary culture confronts us with a multiple-choice test of spiritual pathways in the form of contrasting worldviews. The Greek word hodos (“road”) meant a physical highway, but it also could refer to the path we take in life. The Lord told Jeremiah, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). 

Faced with deception and misinformation, we need a heavy dose of reality. Politicians twist the truth to get our votes. Sales reps lie to get our money. Journalists mingle facts with their own opinions. Preachers scratch “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3) and hesitate to address tough topics because they don’t want to offend. Who will shoot straight with us and confront us with reality? Who offers what the Greeks called aletheia (truth, uprightness, dependability, reality)? Who will tell us what we need to hear, not merely what we want to hear?  

Faced with death and destruction, we need a daily infusion of hope. How can we experience shalom while death stares us in the face? Individually and collectively, we are sliding down a steep hill toward an open grave. Where can we find what the Greeks called zoe (life)? More than a mere physical existence, we long for abundant life, which includes a clear conscience, a compelling sense of purpose, and a hopeful future.  

Our Trouble Bearer 

To some, Jesus’ claim, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) sounds overly narrow and restrictive. Actually, though, this verse contains good news. There’s a way out of the mess we’re in. Jesus is the way (hodos). He is the truth (aletheia). He is the life (zoe). He is our direction setter and our trouble bearer. He defines reality. He is the source of abundant life now and forever.  

The Lord “daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). Through faith in him, we can face troubled times with untroubled hearts. 

Personal Challenge: Jesus claimed to be “the way, the truth, and the life.” How do those words impact you personally? Thank the Lord for helping you find direction, face reality, and live with hope.