I N the words before us the Lord Jesus calls upon the believer in the plainest terms, and says, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
How gracious of the Lord so to speak in the language of sympathy and consolation, guarding the trembling one against trouble and, fear!
That blessed One, who knew what it was to suffer, what trial was, what the scorn of man was, gives us these precious words. His path here did not exempt Him from trouble, but the very reverse, it exposed Him to it. His way was rough indeed, His position a deeply trying one. Enemies surrounded Him on every side, He really knew what trouble was, what hunger was, what thirst was. "He became poor.”
He had riches; He could create them. “He learned obedience by the things which He suffered." His prerogative was to rule; but He obeyed. What a wonder! He became man;
He took our form; He was "made sin" for us.
Let us then keep in mind whose words we are now considering; these comforting, cheering words, "Let not your heart be troubled.”
Whose heart is meant here? The heart of some one particularly privileged, some one more than all others? No. This word is to you, tried, cast down, and distressed believer.
It is suited to your case. To you, afflicted and perhaps bereaved one. You may have lost a wife, a husband, a little one, on whom your affections rested. These words are for you, drooping, feeble one, if you know the speaker of them. This comfort is for you; take it to yourself. Do not pass it by; it is for you, for you who know Jesus, and need Him and His word in all its richness.
This word is comforting, strengthening, cheering. At present we know that it is His WORD we have, but soon it will be HIMSELF that we shall have. He says, “I will come again." This is true, too.
All the way is known to Him; every turn in the way is noticed by Him; yesterday's trial He knew; to-day's difficulty is under His eye; and to-morrow's care is seen by Him; and He says, "Let not your heart be troubled.”
Doubtless the child of God feels he would be a wonder if he did not. The wilderness is felt, and the rough roads therein also, but this sweet word comes there too, “Let not your heart be troubled.”
This is the Lord's word, and power comes with it to the believing soul; a power to bear up under the load. What is there a child of God is not entitled to take to the Lord, and there leave it? If it were the Lord's will that the believer should bear trouble, He would not direct otherwise. He does exercise the heart in the way of discipline, and it is good to be so disciplined. He remembers us in our weakness, and administers the comforting words, words that are for us who believe. Let us then take them in their full import and power, and bless Him for them. Once more, let us repeat them, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”