Fear and unbelief form a deadly duo that can turn us aside from following our Savior Jesus Christ and endanger our hope of eternal life. We cannot allow our troubled hearts to lead us away from God and His purpose for us. Uncertainty, ignorance, or a lack of spiritual understanding about God and His plan weaken our faith, naturally resulting in troubled hearts. The disciples had troubled hearts because they lacked understanding of God's Word as it related to the sufferings of the Messiah, struggling with His comments about His death and resurrection. Two vital elements deliver us from the destructive fear and unbelief at the root of our troubled hearts. The first is faith; we cannot trust God and remain fearful at the same time. Whenever fear strikes, we must quickly turn to God in faith, believing in the power and mercy of our Savior and that what He allows to happen is for our good now and in His Kingdom. The second element is love, for perfect love casts out fear, and the love of God in us is greater than the adversary in the world. With faith in God and hearts filled with His perfect love, we are equipped to overcome the fear and unbelief that cause troubled hearts. Our hearts will continue to be troubled until we overcome these with godly faith and love.

In a world torn by strife, wars, famine, disease, and injustice, where evil is called good and good evil, our hearts can easily become troubled. Amidst demonic influences and a culture that perverts what is wholesome, people slide further from God, and even the church has scattered, with many losing hope and returning to worldly ways. Our trials intensify, and faith is severely tested, stirring unrest in our hearts. As Jesus faced His crucifixion and departure, He sought to encourage His disciples with instruction for troubled hearts, urging them to find peace in Him. Like the young man whose fear of losing security in possessions and unbelief in Christ's divinity caused visible sorrow in his heart, we too risk turning away from following Him if overwhelmed by destructive fear and doubt. Jesus commands us to hold fast to our hearts, letting His peace comfort us, for God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.