Troubled (ταράσσω)
Troubled (ταράσσω) means to shake together, stir up, or throw into confusion.
A few years after the birth of Christ, three Magi from the East came to Judea in search of the King of the Jews. This troubled Herod, a Roman King (Matthew 2:3). After gathering all the chief priests and scribes of Israel to determine where the Christ was to be born, Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem, instructing them to find the child. He deceitfully claimed that he also wished to prostrate before Him.
While Zacharias was performing his priestly service in the Temple of the Lord, an angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the messenger and fear fell upon him (Luke 1:12).
After the resurrection of Christ, He appeared to His disciples multiple times to show them that He was truly raised from the dead. During one such appearance, the disciples were initially overcome with great fear and trembling. On the road to Emmaus, two of the disciples were joined by a man who asked them what they were discussing. Surprised that he did not know about what had happened over the last few days, they informed him how the rulers of Israel put Jesus to death - a man who was great in words and works from God that they had hope was the Messiah. In response, the man opened their minds to the Scriptures, explaining why it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer death and rise again. As the two disciples listened to the stranger, they felt their hearts burning within them.
Upon reaching the village, they urged the stranger to stay with them for the night. While breaking bread, it was revealed to them that the one walking and talking with them was the resurrected Christ. They immediately went back to Jerusalem and found the eleven disciples to inform them of what happened. While recounting to them what had happened, Jesus appears in their midst, causing them to fear, thinking he was a spirit. To reassure them, Jesus tells them to not be troubled (stirred up) or let doubt arise in their hearts for He is actually raised from the dead, proving He is resurrected and not a spirit by partaking of food with them (Luke 24:38-39).
In the upper room, before the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, Jesus shared a lot of details about what was coming and the new relationship with God that would result from these events. However, in order for this to come about, He had to go away. Their hearts are not to be troubled by this, for in His Father’s house are many dwelling places and He is preparing a place for them (John 14:1). To stabilize the Christian, Jesus left His peace with us so that our hearts are not troubled (John 14:27).
Paul marveled at how quickly the saints in Galatia turned away from the One who called them by the grace of Christ to a different gospel. Jews from Jerusalem, claiming they were from the Apostles, came teaching that unless they are circumcised they cannot be saved. They were preaching another gospel and perverting the gospel of the Christ while stirring up the saints to follow them rather than the truth (Galatians 1:7). This persuasion does not come from Him who called them, for in Christ there is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision. Those troubling them will bear their judgment (Galatians 5:6).
When we suffer for acting righteously, we are not to be troubled by threats. Instead, we are to stand firm in our faith, setting apart Christ as our Lord (Master) and being ready to give a verbal defense to anyone who asks about the reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:14-15). It is a thing of grace to suffer for righteousness and the name of Christ; therefore, let none of us suffer as one who does wrong. Instead, in all things, let us seek to fulfill the desires of the Spirit and manifest the life of Christ in us while not being troubled by those who reject the truth, speak false things about us, and treat us unfairly because we refuse to partake in their debauchery. It is better to suffer for doing the desirous will of God than for doing wrong (1 Peter 3:17).