By Beverly Lomosad
Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. – John 14:1
The story behind the contemporary worship song Tell Your Heart to Beat Again was set in an operating room. A surgeon was in the thick of a heart surgery on a patient, so began Randy Phillips, who co-wrote the song with two others. “They opened the chest cavity, extracted and repaired the heart, then put it back in place,” he said during an appearance at Trinity Broadcasting Network. However, even after the surgeon had gently massaged it a few times, the heart didn’t start beating on its own again.
Some drastic measures were taken to get the heart going before the surgeon knelt down beside the unconscious patient, took off his surgical mask, and whispered into her ear: “Miss Johnson, this is your surgeon. The operation was successful. Your heart has been repaired. Now, tell your heart to beat again.” As though the surgeon’s words had reached into the deep recesses of the unconscious patient, the heart began to beat again.
Jesus effectively told his disciples to tell their hearts to not be troubled after He broke the news that He was about to leave and go back to the Father (John 14:1-6). The disciples themselves, not Jesus, were to not let their hearts sink into sorrow – reminiscent perhaps of how David “encouraged himself in the Lord his God” while in great distress (1 Samuel 30:6). To the disheartened disciples, Jesus gave the assurance, “I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:18, NIV), promising “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name” (John 14:26, NIV). Jesus’ words found parallel in Deuteronomy 31:8: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
CALL TO ACTION
A life with God starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
- PRAY OUT LOUD: “Father in heaven, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe that he died on the cross for my sins. I ask you to forgive me of all of my sins. I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Savior and Lord. Amen.”
- WHAT’S NEXT: Be part of a good, Bible-based church.