“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
Something to Meditate Upon
I found myself struck afresh by this verse, especially give the context in which it is found. Read it to yourself a few times. Take it through the day. Sleep on it. Then let me know what you think.
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About Plymothian
I teach at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. My interests include education, biblical studies, and spiritual formation. I have been married to Kelli since 1998 and we have two children, Daryl and Amelia. For recreation I like to run, play soccer, play board games, read and travel.
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Plymothian 
I needed to hear this verse today!
In context, the command is to the disciples, instructing them to not be troubled about the fact that Jesus is going to die, but it is definitely a principle that applies to us. I’m worried about teaching this afternoon; my heart is very troubled as I prepare: Is my lesson plan realistic? Will it accomplish my objectives? Am I understanding my chapter correctly? Will I be able to teach well? But, I know that God is still on the throne, even if I bomb this lesson. His plans for His creation and for my life specifically will not be derailed, even if I royally mess up. I will survive this, because I can trust who God says that I am – I am not just the sum of my successes minus my failures. I am God’s beloved child, and my value is in who I am in Christ, not in how well I teach John 6. 🙂
I love this verse.
This verse brings me back and helps me refocus on what is important. My life can feel like it is going a million miles an hour but I need to stop worrying. Jesus is all I need! Cliche but true.
This verse is incredibly refreshing especially as the semester is ending and I am approaching student teaching. There is such peace in knowing that I can trust God to take my troubles and fears!
I can rest. I need only trust in Jesus.
I made a comment but I am not sure if it appeared or not…so I will say it again: I can rest. I need only trust in Jesus.
Loving this! It’s interesting how the format for this post reflects the simplicity yet profundity of the passage. Really needed to hear this just because it seems like college, as of late, is determining what I do and what I think. I think about time like it is my economy and grades are like my currency. Right now it feels like I am going through the Great Depression. But God is here.
This was a great verse to have in mind today, especially as I attended the sexual healing event. His goal is my healing. I can trust him.
1. I needed that reminder. Belief as the remedy for inner turmoil.
My heart is dancing with joy at this verse because God is showing me I can trust in Him.
The context of this verse is mind-blowing because it takes place before Jesus’ arrest. Jesus’ heart must have been troubled at the suffering He was about to face on our behalf, but He fully trusted in God and submitted His will to the Father. Knowing that His disciples would face the chaos and confusion after His arrest and crucifixion, He tells them to believe in God and also in Him, the Son of God. He wants them to understand that He must die in order for us to have life.
I admit… I might see things a little more negatively because, since meditating on this verse from last night and throughout today, it sort of felt harder and harder to understand – it felt like the disciples and I (if I were to apply it) are being commanded to do something that they / I don’t really know how to do. How do we not let our hearts be troubled!? I think about the reasons my heart has been/ is troubled and they seem justified and it’s their fault my heart is troubled after all. But then I started thinking… they may CAUSE my heart to be troubled, but I LET my heart continue to be troubled. I think it is such a human tendency to refuse to do the things that would make us feel better, and instead to do things that make us feel worse. (Why do we do that!?) I dwell on the things that are worrying me. I listen to music that keeps me sad. I feel bad and then feel bad about feeling bad; it’s a cycle that Christ wants me to stop by not letting my heart continue to be troubled.
In context, the disciples were specifically troubled because they were about to feel the awful, sudden absence of their Lord – who they had been spending their lives with – it would be quite a change. Their hearts certainly would be and had a right to be troubled but Christ didn’t want them to stay there – “The sun never disappointed us by not coming, neither does our Lord.” -Amy Carmichael
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
I feel the need to insert “but”, which would then say: “Let not your hearts be troubled BUT believe in God; believe also in me.” It’s a contrast of 2 ideas: Troubled hearts versus belief in God and in Jesus Christ. Just like the disciples, we have the choice to either worry and let our hearts be troubled or instead to believe in God and in Jesus Christ. This simple sounding command carries so much weight because it implies that we believe in God as Lord over everything, even the issues that arise.
I am reminded of our brief digression in class when you (professor Worrall) spoke about the dangers of ‘Achievement’. Adding to this, I think of how I often find my value in that which I accomplish. It’s awful and I see it as something good at the moment because ‘I’m reaching success’. Yet it harms my dependence on God. In other words, I am allowing my accomplishments to become idols as I grow a subconscious sense of self-lordship. Not only that, but this desire to do something myself – is this not clearly an indication of doubt? An unbelief in the power and authority as creator and sustainer of the entire world and all that is in it, including my minuscule life?
This is the “but”, the contradiction, that God has been speaking to me about lately and is summed up in this verse.
To be fully with god, like Adam or Moses even Noah. To walk with God and have an audible conversation with him daily. To always be behind God letting him lead the way. Of this world we have trouble but of Gods world we will have ever lasting love.
This is all I need to hear today.
A simple and profound truth.
I love this. I need no other than Jesus.
Jesus is calling them to believe in Him, that he is who he says he is: God in the flesh, the promised Messiah. “Let not your hearts be troubled” is a result, which comes out of that.
Here is my analysis (my mind works this way, I wish I could turn it off sometimes…)
1) “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves” and “the Father who dwells in me does his works” – Jesus speaking truth and doing good are a result of being in the Father and the Father being in Him.
2) “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do” and the Spirit of truth “dwells with you and will be in you” – Us speaking truth and doing good are a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (which is a result of believing in Jesus)
3) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” – Jesus said his two commands were to love God with your whole self, and love others like yourself – believing in and trusting Jesus results in loving Him even more, which results in loving others better
4) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” – Jesus gives us peace
5) “You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” – if they would have believed in Jesus, they would have peace and their hearts would not be troubled. When Jesus dies on the cross, they will know that what he said is true, and they will believe. Then they will experience peace. As a result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they will then become vessels of peace, hope, and love to others.
Yes! So thankful for this constant reminder. It is like a child coming in faith to the Father, believing Him to come through. It’s easy to forget the simple truth of trusting, by choice of mind and heart.
My heart seems to always be troubled. I love that our heart can be at peace through belief in God. He is worthy to be praised! I am continually amazed by the power of the God we serve, what belief in him does to our frail hearts.
Several years ago, I learned a rap of John 14 at church camp. The version we learned used “trust” instead of “believe” and I have always loved both the rhythm of the rap and the contrast between the two commands: do NOT let you heart be troubled; TRUST in God, trust also in me. I am reminded of the conscious choice that I can make to calm my heart, and turning to God, lay all my burdens on Him, trusting His faithfulness and grace to heal me and keep me.