Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled: Finding Peace in Jesus’ Promise

 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

John 14:1-3

Dear Friends,

The Pain of Separation

Separation is a difficult trial to bear. When you love someone, you want to be with them. When distance keeps you apart, there is often a deep sadness.

I remember the heavy longing of separation because I experienced it many times after meeting Dad. We became acquainted at a Christian camp in the Adirondack Mountains of New York and quickly fell in love. However, we were both in college and lived in different states, so we had to say goodbye for months at a time during the two years we dated.

A Difficult Goodbye

Several years later, after we had been married for four years and welcomed our second child, Emily, we faced another season of separation.

We had decided to move from New Jersey to Ohio and purchased a small house in October of 1993. Dad accepted a job in the area and needed to begin work in early December. Because I had just given birth and our new house was still being renovated, we made the difficult decision for him to move to Ohio for a few weeks without me.

While I stayed at Grandma and Grandpa’s house in New Jersey, Dad settled into his new job and oversaw the final preparations for our home. It was a wonderful day when he returned to get me and brought our two children and me to our newly refurbished house.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

Just as separation can be painful for us, the disciples also faced the sorrow of being separated from someone they loved.

As Jesus prepared them for His imminent departure, He assured them of His love and told them of His plans. The disciples were confused about where He was going and why, so Jesus comforted them with these words:

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Even though they did not fully understand, the disciples were already beginning to feel the pangs of loneliness. They did not want their Lord to leave them, but Jesus explained that He was going to His Father and would prepare a place for them.

One day, He promised, He would come again and receive them to Himself.

The Promise of a Prepared Place

Intrigued but confused, Thomas asked,
“We do not know where You are going, so how do we know the way?”

Jesus answered with one of the most powerful truths in Scripture:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Jesus also assured them that they would not be left alone. He would ask the Father to send them a Helper, the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit, who had been with them, would soon live within them, teaching them and reminding them of all Jesus had said.

Once again Jesus spoke words of comfort:

“Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.”

These words gave the disciples hope as they faced the difficult days ahead.

Peace in an Unpredictable World

This Easter season, remember that Jesus’ promise to His disciples is also a promise for us.

We live in an unpredictable world, but we do not have to live in fear. If we have received God’s gift of salvation, made possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can look forward to the day when we will go home to be with Him forever.

Jesus is still the way, the truth, and the life.

Through Him we can know the Father, receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and experience peace even when life feels uncertain.

And because of His promise, we can truly live without fear, remembering His words:

“Do not let your heart be troubled.”

Love,

Mama

If this reminder encouraged your heart today, consider sharing it with a friend who may need Jesus’ peace in an uncertain world.

This reflection is part of my Passion Week Reflections devotional series, a week of daily insights into Jesus’ final days leading up to His death and resurrection.

You can read all the posts in this series and continue the journey here →
Passion Week Reflections Series