“Do not
let your hearts be troubled” might be mistaken for a Jesus “Just Do It” theology
if it were not for the peace that precedes the “do not be troubled”. In the
same way that “Believe in God. Believe also in me” precedes the same command in
the beginning of chapter 14, the “do not let…” does not lead. It follows. And
the peace that precedes the “do not let…” is not put on a happy face and the
whole world smiles with you because the sun will come up tomorrow bet your
bottom dollar solution to real life strife. In the same way, “believe in me”
does not mean just get over it. Nor does it minimize trouble because it could
be worse even if it clearly could be. That would be worldly peace. The peace of
the world is temporary and illusionary as it denies sorrow, medicates pain with
costly pleasure, or seeks solace by seeing to it that other hearts are equally
troubled. The peace that Jesus gives embraces suffering and dies to destroy the
power of death. Called to cling to the cross by which Jesus overcomes the world,
and all the trouble in it, the people of Jesus’ peace believe that trouble is
temporary while peace is eternal. In the fourth chapter of his second letter to
the troublesome Corinthians the apostle Paul did not let his heart be troubled
even though he had more than enough of his share of difficulty. “We have this
treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and
not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Do not let your hearts be troubled is not a command. It is an invitation.
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