Take Heart

Posted on August 5, 2026 by

23 Comments

Recently my favorite Canadian friend, Tina over at Pippi’s Poetry, had an encouraging post titled Wildfires.

I will let you take a moment to read it all the way through … 😁

Towards the end of the post, Tina mentioned several Bible verses. One of them was from John 16:33. The NIV says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

These words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples when the cross was near. It was a heavy time. The disciples didn’t understand what would happen, but Jesus knew what was coming.

After I read Tina’s post, the words “Take Heart” kept rolling through my mind.

Looking up the original Greek word used here, it means “to have courage:—be of good cheer (comfort).” [1]

And according to Merriam-Webster, take heart means, “to gain courage or confidence : to begin to feel better and more hopeful.” [2]

I like the way the AMPC enhances this verse, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

As Jesus said, we will face trials in life. But He also reminded us to take heart, to have courage, to be of good cheer, to hold onto hope, to be undaunted.

Jesus already won. He is the victor.

And while that doesn’t eliminate the pain we walk through on this side of eternity, it does help us to remember that there is nothing too big for our God. No matter what we are facing, His strength can overcome.

In 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Paul tells us about a “thorn” that bothered him. Paul prayed three times asking God to remove this “thorn.” But the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

And His grace is sufficient for us too. No matter what we are facing, He will see us through it. We can take heart because we have the Good Shepherd, and He will handle whatever we are going through when we surrender to Him. We can take heart when we remember our God is faithful, His promises are true, and He hears our prayers. And we can take heart when we remember God is fighting our battles. Let us take heart, as we lean on the Lord and His strength.

Thank you for reading! God bless!

© 2018-2026 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2293/kjv/tr/0-1/

[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20heart

Category: Seeking God

23 Comments on “Take Heart”

  1. Amen, Bridget. I follow Tina, too. She is one of my favorite writers and poets. A true creative soul.
    Please keep posting, sister; you have much good to share. Mega-Blessings!

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    • Thank you, David. That was very kind. I have been struggling for too long to write much and be creative. I miss it. More than that I’m really struggling with my mental health. So I’m missing much calmer seas….. I have a doctor’s appointment coming up on Friday. Please keep me in prayer. I so need it right now.

      Thank you, and God Bless.

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  2. Thank you for sharing Tina’s post. I like her analogy of God is with us even in the fire – the heat of our earthly troubles.

    John 16:33 is perhaps my favorite verse. Jesus confirms that we will have trouble in this world but He will see us through!

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    • You’re welcome! And I agree. I really liked that analogy too. And the Bible verse is a great reminder for us to keep in mind, especially when life brings us some difficulties.

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  4. “Jesus already won. He is the victor.
    And while that doesn’t eliminate the pain we walk through on this side of eternity, it does help us to remember that there is nothing too big for our God. No matter what we are facing, His strength can overcome.”

    Nothing is too big for God. I’ve reminded myself of this just this week. He’s bigger than what we’re going through but sometimes we make our situation and circumstance bigger than God and need to move our focus.
    A great reminder and thank you for sharing Tina’s post! I follow her, but didn’t see it pop up. I loved her analogy.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • You’re welcome. Tina’s post definitely hit home. And you are so right. I too often make my trials bigger than God. But as you said, we need to move our focus. It can be so difficult sometimes, and we might have to keep shifting over and over again. Thank you for that reminder, Summer! ♥️

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  5. Such an encouraging post. God indeed is faithful, His promises are true, and He hears our cries and our prayers. And we can take heart when we remember God is fighting our battles.
    Blessings to you my friend 😊🙏🏽

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    • Hi Signora Sheila! I hope you’re doing well. Thank you. I’m so thankful for Jesus and the peace He brings. What a gift we have in Him 🎁

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  7. Hi Bridget! I enjoyed Tina’s post and the song, thank you for sharing it. I’m so glad Jesus has overcome the world and that we can fully surrender to and trust in Him. His goodness and mercy are following us all the days of our lives. Thanks for this encouragement. Have a blessed weekend. ☀️

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    • You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Amen! I agree. I am so thankful for Jesus and all that His sacrifice means to us. I hope you have a blessed weekend too! 🌺

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  10. Thank you, Bridget. It was a real blessing to read your words. I’m not in a very good place right now mentally. I’ve been struggling terribly with anxiety and just not feeling good about life. So I think my anxiety is mixed with depression. I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday to try to seek some medical intervention because this feels beyond the normal and bearable anxieties of life. Even though I know God goes before us and behind us, I am just unable to find that peace. Please pray for God’s help and guidance as I seek that help.

    I was on an anti-depressant/anxiety meds, but came off it to work on my sleep problems which have worsened over time. I wasn’t sure I still needed to be on them either. Now I’m not so sure coming off them was such a great idea. But I also had emotional blunting that was very bothersome to me. And I never felt that it really resolved my depression. It just made me sort of flat about life.

    I am currently on HRT (hormone replacement therapy) in hopes of getting better sleep. I was getting very little to no sleep. I can atleast get some sleep, but it’s not ideal.

    Sorry, lots of info… My big fear (well of course is that I would continue feeling the way that I feel, which is why I’m seeking medical intravention) but I also don’t want to go back to being emotionally blunted either. Please pray that this time round I could find a better solution that makes it possible for the anxiety to be calmed, aswell as restore a sense of well-being rather than continuing to struggle to feel joy in my life.

    On top of my anxiety and depression we have some family stuff we are dealing with as Andrew’s parents are aging. I’ll spare you that story…. sorry. 🫤 I just really needed prayer.

    Thank you for sharing my post and your friendship. Definitely still wish we were neighbors.

    Tina ❤️🌸🦋

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    • Tina, I’m really sorry about the struggles you’ve been dealing with. It can so frustrating when we want to get on a good path, yet at times we are unable to figure out what is best. I will definitely keep you in my prayers. And I really wish we were neighbors too. One day! 💕 … “Dear Heavenly Father, we humbly come to You for Your divine guidance in Tina’s situation. Tina is Your precious daughter, so we know You love her and want what’s best for her. Please flood her life with Your love and Your joy. Please be with her at her doctor’s appointment. Guide the clinicians and Tina to make the right decisions so she can get on a better path. Please help her to find a good sleep pattern. And please help her to find the abundant life that Jesus promised. God we are so thankful that we can come to You in prayer. You want us to cast our cares on You, because You care for us. We are trusting You to intervene in this situation. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.” 🙏🏻

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© 2018–2026 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.