Finding Peace For Troubled Hearts

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)

When I read this verse my first thought was about a line in the book The Lord of The Rings where the elf Galadriel welcomed the fellowship of the ring to Lothlorien. The fellowship had struggled mightily in their quest thus far and felt defeated. They were greeted by Galadriel with these exact words “Let not your hearts be troubled.” and then encouraged to rest their weary bodies.

Likewise Jesus ties his blessing of “peace” with this admonition to also “let not your hearts be troubled”. Yet, it’s often a troubled heart that prevents us from having peace and rest. It’s a troubled heart that keeps us awake during the watches of the night. It’s a troubled heart that either causes or is caused by a lack of peace in our lives.

In the very first verse of this chapter in John’s Gospel Jesus tells his disciples:

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1 ESV)

It’s a troubled heart that demonstrates our need for Jesus and it’s in him that we find true peace.