Take Heart
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with an assuring word from Jesus.
Yes, it is from the mouth of your Savior directly to you today. Because if you are struggling, no matter what the hardship; if your heart is troubled, Jesus speaks this to you from Matthew 14:27. He says, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Now, I want you to picture; I want you to just imagine God speaking those words over you, actually to you today. He’s saying, “Don’t be afraid. If your strength is low, have courage. From the mouth of the Most High to you, ‘Take heart.’” God knows how to furnish courage to a fearful heart; He knows how to parcel joy to a sad heart. He knows how to give strength to a weak heart.
My friend David Mathis of Desiring God Ministries has something to say about this. David writes, “When Jesus speaks to us, one of the most distinctive words we hear is ‘Take heart.’ He does not say, ‘Follow your heart,’ but TAKE them … remind them of who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. [Jesus] rolls back the stone and speaks into the tomb of your soul. He creates what He commands, as He says with sovereign sway, ‘Take heart.’ … He who says, ‘Take heart,’ also says, ‘I AM.’”
David goes on to describe that terrifying moment on the sea of Galilee, when the hearts of the disciples were deeply shaken: “They’re terrified. They cry out in fear. But Jesus speaks … to them: ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ Literally, His words are ‘Take heart, I AM’ – [of course] which has a double meaning: ‘It is I, Jesus, whom you know … ‘I am the Great I AM.’ As when Moses asked for God’s name, and He said, ‘I AM Who I AM’ [from Exodus], so Jesus now declares to His disciples, [to you,] ‘I AM.’ When Jesus tells us to take heart, He does so as God Himself. I am God, and there is no other, He says. I am your Creator. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. I am God Himself, made human, dwelling among you – and I am FOR you. Do not be afraid. You are under my watch and [my] care, and no storm, however great, can match my power and protection. [So,] take heart; I AM. You have the attention of God Himself.”
Boy, those words from David Mathis sure are encouraging. You know, friend, when you are suffering, when you have great needs; when you are filled with sorrow and you cry out with that beggar alongside the road in Mark chapter 10, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me,” Jesus is not inattentive to that pleading. Even though you cannot see him, in the midst of that crowd – yes, even on the side of the road where the beggar was sitting – even in the middle of the noise and the mayhem, you’ve got His attention; He is moving toward you to heal you and bless and extend His grace to you.
David Mathis also recounts another well-known, “take heart” statement from John chapter 16 when Jesus was in the Upper Room, the night before He died, at a time when no one would have thought less of Him for thinking of Himself only. He turns to His disciples and says, “In the world you’ll have tribulation. But take heart; I’ve overcome the world.” Oh, friend, don’t miss it. It’s a truth to rehearse time and again. When your courage is faltering, take hold of your heart and remind it of things that are true. Jesus has overcome the world. The shadow of your suffering will pass. And He will see you through to the darkest valley, so take heart. If you’d like to read the entire article by David Mathis, just visit us Joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends
