Troubled Heart

Published: June 29, 2023, 4 a.m.

b'Why do we worry when we know that God loves us? Why do we let our hearts become troubled when we know that Jesus warns us against that very thing?\\n\\n\\n\\nI wish I could say I never have a troubled heart. I wish I could say I easily and naturally surrender my worries to God. But I do worry\\u2014many of us do. Why do we deal with worry, fear, and other struggles? Shouldn\\u2019t we be able to leave these behind when we follow Jesus?\\n\\n\\n\\nThe reality is, we still live in a broken world. Jesus said, \\u201cIn this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world\\u201d (John 16:33). The good news is that Jesus is with us, even in the midst of struggles, and He wants to help us. I wonder what would happen if we got into the habit of seeking the Lord at the very first sign of a troubled heart.\\n\\n\\n\\nIn Psalm 34:1, David writes, \\u201cI will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.\\u201d Always. We can choose to praise God always, in the good times and the bad, in our moments of joy and in our moments of worry. We are designed to live and breathe in worship to our Creator. Worship is a safe place to go when we feel worried.\\n\\n\\n\\nA few verses later, David goes on to say, \\u201cI sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears\\u201d (Psalm 34:4). It\\u2019s interesting that David doesn\\u2019t say he never had fears. But when he was experiencing worry, he sought the Lord, and he was delivered. Not delivered from the danger, necessarily\\u2014but delivered from the fear.\\n\\n\\n\\nLike David, we can rush to God as soon as we start to feel worried or afraid. We can go to our knees in prayer whenever our hearts feel troubled. We can praise God at all times. As we remember who He is and how much He loves us, we often find that our worries can\\u2019t cling as tightly. And we can rest in the sure hope that Jesus Christ died and rose again so that we might live fearlessly. He is going to return one day and fix our broken world, taking away things like worry and fear forever. And even now, Jesus is in the business of healing troubled hearts. \\u2022 Becca Wierwille\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 When do you tend to feel worried or afraid? Why do you think God invites us to worship Him at all times, especially when our hearts are troubled?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 If you find yourself struggling with worries or fears that won\\u2019t go away, you\\u2019re not alone. The Lord has compassion on you, and He wants to help you. Who are trusted people in your life you could talk to about what you\\u2019re experiencing, such as pastors, parents, or counselors?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u201cDo not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me [Jesus].\\u201d John 14:1 (NIV)\\n\\n\\n\\nREAD: PSALM 34:1-8; MATTHEW 6:25-34; JOHN 14:1-7; PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9'