"Don't Be Troubled"

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." Matthew 24:6 

There is so much uncertainty in the world today- it seems to be spinning out of control. 

 

Unfortunately, war and violence, trials and tribulation, are all part of this life because of the presence of sin. But in three of the gospels Jesus told us how we should respond when we hear about them-- "see that you do not be troubled". The word for troubled means: to be frightened, troubled in mind, alarmed.

 

"See that you do not be troubled." How do we keep from being troubled, frightened or alarmed? In Isaiah 26:3 we are told-- "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." The Lord keeps us in perfect peace when we keep our minds on Him; when we keep our minds focused on Him and not the surrounding situations; when we keep our minds renewed in His word and remember His promises. But in our opening verse above we are told to see to it that we are not troubled. There is a part that we have to play. We are told to guard our peace, don't allow ourselves to be troubled, don't let ourselves become alarmed and fearful. How do we do that? The same way-- by keeping our minds on the Lord, by staying focused on Him, by renewing our minds in His word, and by remembering His promises. When we keep our minds stayed on the Lord, there is no room for fear to come in and trouble us. 

 

Have a great day. When we hear troubling news-- be it in world events or personal upsetting circumstances-- we don't have to be troubled by it. And we won't be if we will keep our minds focused on the Lord and renewed in His word. As we do, we will be guarding our minds against fear and alarm, and He will be keeping our minds in perfect peace.