I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

Singer Danny Gokey recorded a song entitled “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again.” This beautiful song gives me encouragement to keep going when I am tired or depressed. https://youtu.be/eUHRDCYnFfg

I saw an interview with Randy Phillips, one of the songwriters. The true story that inspired the song is fascinating. https://youtu.be/pdPp7ofeBMA

A heart surgeon had operated on a woman, repairing her heart. He then massaged her heart to make it beat. It didn’t. He tried a few more times. Still no heartbeat. He attempted more extreme measures. 

None of the heart surgeon’s techniques were restoring heart function. Finally, he knelt down beside the woman and spoke in her ear. 

“This is your surgeon. The operation went perfectly. Your heart has been repaired. Now tell your heart to beat again.”

The woman’s heart started beating. She would live again. She had a future.

Ladies, sometimes we have to tell our hearts to beat again. Life is hard. We take a beating. We’ve been hurt in so many ways. We get stuck and can’t figure out how to move forward.

Remember, Jesus died so you could live. He is not finished with your story. You do have a future. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).

A friend who has lost two close family members is hanging on to the part of this verse that says God has plans for our good. His plans are not for disaster in our lives, although it may look like it at the moment. 

Breathe. Believe. Take a step toward living. God has given you a new heart. Tell your heart to beat again.

Lord, give us courage to live again.

Terri