Comfort for Troubled Hearts
“Most of the time, all we see and all we think about is right now. But think about it: Is what’s bothering you right now, even going to matter 100 years from now? Because if it doesn’t matter a hundred years from now, it’s not going to matter in eternity.” – Tony Walliser
Comfort for Troubled Hearts
Do you ever go to bed at night feeling troubled, even if you can’t pinpoint why? And then you wake up in the morning and still feel troubled? If you’ve experienced that, even just occasionally, you’re not alone.
We live in a troubled, troubling world. If you don’t believe that, just turn on the evening news for a few minutes. Violence in its many forms; fatal car crashes; natural disasters; worrisome weather; political wrangling; bad economic reports; wars and rumors of wars. A prominent TV journalist once said, “Our job in the news media is to scare the h— out of people.” Give them credit – they’re doing a good job at that.
But having to cope with troubled hearts is hardly a new thing. Years ago, trumpeter, vocalist and songwriter Louis Armstrong wrote, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” The first two lines go, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen; nobody knows my sorrow.” Can you relate?
Rather than offer his fans a depressing tune, however, Mr. Armstrong concluded his song with these words: “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows but Jesus. Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen – Glory, Hallelujah.”
“Hallelujah!” Literally, “Praise God (Yahweh).” While the legendary musician wasn’t known as a theologian, he was pointing to a powerful biblical truth. Addressing believers in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote, “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us…” (Romans 5:3-5).
In a sense, Paul was telling them, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen – nobody knows but Jesus.” His perspective was not unique. Another apostle, James, exhorted followers of Jesus to, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
If we have committed our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ, we find ourselves living in a temporal (temporary) world but holding onto an eternal hope. While we’re called to serve the Lord and the people that He brings our way, and to be witnesses for Him whenever the opportunity presents itself, He instructs us not to lose sight of what awaits us in the future.
Jesus told His disciples, “In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:2-3). This promise applies to everyone who follows Jesus – including you and me.
We know from the opening chapters of Genesis that the garden of Eden, before Adam and Eve sinned, was a paradise. Another word for it might be “utopia.” But whether it’s what we see and hear on the news, or what we experience in our personal and vocational lives, we’re not living in paradise right now. Nowhere close to utopia.
If we dwell on this – thinking that all we see and know at this moment is all there is – we’ll find ourselves in despair. Jesus understood this. Which is why He assured His followers then – and tells us today through the Word of God – “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
In a world that sometimes seems hopeless, we can have unwavering hope – earnest expectation and confident assurance – in the assurances Jesus has given, for this life and the life to come. Glory, Hallelujah!