When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. – Psalm 94:19
In the early part of the nineteenth century, French painter Ary Scheffer painted “Christus Consolator.” He was inspired by Jesus’ quotation of Isaiah 61:1 in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” All around the figure of Jesus are the “broken.” A woman kneels in mourning for her dead child; a castaway holds onto a piece of shipwreck; a person with suicidal thoughts holds onto a dagger. And there are others.
All were individuals with heavy hearts, and all were seeking comfort and understanding from the Savior. What “consolations” or words of comfort from the Lord are His prescriptions for heavy-heartedness? You can start with Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Or place your confidence in the certainty of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jesus reminded you, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1).
The richness of His love for you is expressed in Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” Be encouraged, Christian, for God’s immeasurable love continues to be poured out for you. He has you and He will not let go!
Pray for members of Congress who are dealing with depression or feelings of hopelessness to discover the consolations offered by God in Christ Jesus.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 94:19
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 4:13-21
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
