not letting our hearts be troubled

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

John 14:1, 27; NRSVue

There are just so many reasons why our hearts can be troubled or distressed. There’s really no end to that list, and we can be sure that the devil is in the details of that. There is something at work in opposition to all good and to active faith in Christ. We learn that all too soon.

Jesus’s words to his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion still ring for us today, and they ring true. Yes, it’s good to have the entire context, and the link gives you that, but I want to focus a bit on the two sayings in which Jesus gives this directive.

First of all, we, I include us in this, because this narrative is meant to be applied for us, meant for the readers in whatever situation we find ourselves in, we’re told not to let our hearts be troubled. We’re not to be passive in letting this happen to us. That suggests that we need to be active in doing something, instead. And here’s where the entire passage can help us. Jesus points out that he is the way, truth and life, that anyone who has truly seen him has seen the Father, and that they’ll receive the Holy Spirit from him and the Father. And all of this in the midst of the greatest trial, which of course he must endure.

It is quite hard to resist becoming troubled, again over so many issues, personal and otherwise. But that’s what we’re told to do. We must not be passive, but active, believing or trusting in God and in Christ. And holding on to the truth that Christ’s peace is meant for us no matter what. Yes, no matter what.

All of this is present in Christ, but not automatic. God will meet us in that, in our sincere, even if seemingly weak effort. God will help us. But to receive that help, it’s up to us.

back to basics (part one: against anxiety)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7; NRSVue

It’s best to see this command or if you were directive in its immediate context (click link) as well as in the context of the entire book. Philippians is written to Christ-followers in community. That said, these words addressing anxiety are for individuals where they are and community as it is. There is no question that all of my life I’ve seen this directive from Paul addressed to individuals. But the words themselves as well as the context of this letter might suggest otherwise. Perhaps it is primarily to the church together as it faces possible persecution and certainly are engaged in a struggle for the gospel. And secondarily to individuals who might seek to apply Paul’s words. Maybe that’s why fulfillment of this promise seems difficult, because this is meant for community. That said, I don’t think for one moment that this doesn’t apply to us in our individual lives and situations. Applied to community, it’s to take our personal concerns to community for prayer.

The idea about not being anxious about anything at all seems like more than wonderful, too good to be true. Or we might water it down by saying that it’s simply saying that the kind of anxiety spoken of here ought not to plague us. By nature that’s what this anxiety does. It serves really no good purpose at all. There surely is another kind of anxiety which is useful and just a part of being human allied to a healthy fear. If something happens which somehow might be threatening, we react, doing something to counter that concern for ourselves or others. That is different. The anxiety Paul refers to here is that which gnaws away at our insides, our heart and minds, and takes away inward peace. A kind of fear which does not let up but takes over. Nowadays we talk about such in psychological terms such as anxiety disorder. And make no mistake about this: counseling along with medication can be absolutely necessary in some cases. Seeking to pray but receiving the psychological and medical help as well. Paul’s words involve whatever might cause anxiety and no one is immune to that possibility.

To be anxious about nothing at all is something more than welcome especially for those of us who are prone to worry and anxiety. We might think, wow, what a world that would be! It brings to mind the question whether or not Paul’s thorn in the flesh which tormented him somehow involved anxiety. That event recounted in 2 Corinthians 12 led Paul to not only accept but even learn to embrace weakness in general as Christ’s means of keeping Paul humble and dependent on Christ. Christ told him that his grace was indeed enough, and that his power is made perfect in weakness. Paul’s thorn in the flesh and what weaknesses which apply would certainly not be sin or the direct effects of personal or communal sin. Therefore, we can rule out the anxiety Paul referred to in Philippians 4 as applying to any weakness that we might or maybe ought to accept.

We’re not to be anxious before we apply this. I wonder about that, but only because I’m so used to trying to apply this directive only after I’m anxious. What if we could develop the habit of trying to apply this in all of life? What if we looked at this passage more like, here comes the next thing, and right now I’m “making it known” to God in prayer, humbly asking for whatever help I or we need from God concerning this? The things we’re already anxious about, we also can take to God in prayer, first confessing that anxiety as likely the sin it is in not trusting in God. And then we can deal with it in the same way. Thanking God for this promise and God’s help.

To end what for me is a long post, I’ll simply look in wonder and hopefully God-given delight at the promised outcome: the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. That is incredible, tremendous. Even with the thorn in the flesh, or whatever weakness we have, we’re to have that peace. Something God has for us and wants to give us. Yes, even before anxiety hits.