A Troubled Heart

1. The Antidote for a TroubledHeart – 22nd
November 2015 -
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me”(John 14:1)
“Trust inGod; trust alsoin me”Just 7 simple words.Butunpackingthe sevenwordsof thisexhortationis
no small challenge,butitisvital thatwe do so because it representsacritical anchorin difficulttimes.It
isthe antidote fora troubledheart. “TrustinGod” was at the centerof PastorJohnPiper’slife whenhe
was diagnosedinlate 2005 withprostate cancer. Ina lettertohiscongregation,he wrote: “The newsof
cancer has a wonderfullyblastingeffectonboththe sinof self reliance andthe stuporof the world.I
thankGod for that. The timeswithChristinthese dayshave beenunusuallysweet…”.
As Christianswe should aspiretohave trustinGod—anabsolute faith,assurance,and Godgiven peace
at those timeswhenourownworldseemstobe crumblingintopieces. Atsucha time itmay be quite
difficultbutwe canlearnwhenJesussays:“Donot let your hearts be troubled.You believe inGod;
believe alsoin me (John14: 1). It is the level of ourfaithinJesusChristthatenablesustolive thatway.
Whenfacedwitha crisis,we needtohave the faithand confidence thatHe will see usthrough.Thiscan
only stemfroma clear sense of identityasa Childof God. It isa confidence bornof a strong relationship
withGod and a strongsense of our ownidentity astowho God isto us. It isthe anchor. Aswe read as
statedabove inJohn14, Jesus’exhortationtonotbe troubledisleveragedbyourtrustinGod the
Fatherand trust inChrist. We can geta deeperunderstandingwhenJesussaysinthe same passage:
“Peace I leave with you;my peace I give you.I do not give to you as the worldgives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled anddo not be afraid” (John14:27).
Trust inGod, it seems,hasbothactive andpassive elements.We exercise ourfaithwhenwe askGodfor
whatwe needorwant.It shouldbe a dailyprocess, astaught to usin the Lord’s Prayer.We sign
mortgagesonour homes,trustingthatGod will supplyourneedsandwe will be able topaythe
mortgage. Pastorsplantchurches,trustingthatGod will draw people tohimself andthatthe workof the
kingdomwill be advanced.Missionariesdepartforthe farcornersof the globe,trustingthatGod will
provide,protect,andprosperthe workof theirhands. It isthrough our Trust inGod for His provision
because He knowsbest.Ourbelief forHisprovisionthrough ourPrayeristhe act of trust,believingthat
God doesrewardthose whodiligentlyseekHim.ThatiswhyJesuspromised: “Ifyouremaininme and
my words remainin you,ask whatever youwish,and it will be done for you.” (John15:7). The problem
isthat we deviate fromGod’swill throughsinandour sinfulness.
It isa remarkable andoftenmisunderstoodpromisethatiseasilyexploitedbythe teachersof false
doctrine.The promise of Godis true but itis temperedbythe teachingthatGodanswersall thingsin
accordance with Hiswill…whichneednotbe alwaystoourinclination. Those wholive inChristandin
whomHis wordliveswill askaccordingtoGod’swill andfindthose requestsfulfilled.Prayerisan
expressionof faith,justasiseveryact of obedience andeverytemptationsof sinthatwe willfully resist.
The other side of the equation isthattrust inGod isalso passive. Aswe canlearnbelow, Jobasmuch as
anyone,demonstratedthispassiveaspectof trust inGod. He saidthat nomatter whatGod allowedto
come hisway, he wouldcontinue totrustinGod. We can learnfromfourconcise statementsfrom bible
where Job summarizesthe realityof passive trust:Firstly:“TheLord gave andthe Lord hastaken away.
May the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job1:21). He stateswhateverhappensletitbe inkeepingwith
God’swill…Secondlyhe questionsthe readerwhat“we thinkisgood for us” woulditbe inkeepingwith

2. Gods will?“Shall weacceptgood fromGod,and not trouble?” (Job2:10). He followsthisupwhenhe
says: “Thoughheslay me, yet will I hopein him” (Job13:15). Evenwhenfacedwithturmoil thathe
wouldhave hope inGodsprovision…notourwayas we think, butHisway as the all knowingGod. Lastly
he says: “Iknow that my Redeemer lives,and that in the end he will stand uponthe earth. And after
my skinhas been destroyed, yet in my fleshI will see God.(Job 19:25-26).
Trust inGod is eventually aboutSurrendertoHim.He isthe omnipresentGodandthroughHislove for
us knowsbestforus. Mush like parentswhoknow whatisbestforthe children.EvenasChristianswe
finditdifficulttofaithfullylevee itinhands.We can learnin Psalm46:10 – “He says,“Be still,andknow
that I am God;I will be exaltedamong the nations,I will be exalted inthe earth.”
In our timesof crisis,we prayfervently—perhapsevendebatingwithGodthatGod mightalterthe
circumstances.Butas Christians all the while we mustrememberthatprayerisan act of trust in God.
EvenwhenGod’swill revealsthatwe mustpassthrough a particularcrisis,we mustlearnto surrender
our will asan act of trust inHim.
Trust inGod requires acceptance andan embrace of God’swill andour surrenderto His will. We can
readin the bible thatJesusprayedthathe mightnot have to drinkthe cup of His crucifixion,butthen He
surrenderedtothe will of God:“He went away a secondtime and prayed, “MyFather, ifit is not
possibleforthis cup to be taken away unlessI drink it, may yourwill be done” (Matthew26:42).
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God;
trust also in me”(John 14:1)