Take Heart and Cheer Up!
Take Heart and Cheer Up!
“Wait for Yahweh! Be strong and take heart (Let your heart show strength and courage), and wait for the Lord!” (Ps. 27:14, of David).
Jesus the son of David loved using a phrase in His ministry, actually it’s one word in the Greek, that has often been translated as “Take Heart.” He was serious about this phrase, and He used it like a coach encouraging his athletes, a teacher inspiring her students, a doctor comforting his patients, or a parent cheering up her child. The words “take heart” is from the Greek word “Tharseo,” and has a few shades of meaning: Cheer up! Be encouraged! Be enheartened! Be of good cheer! Have courage! Take comfort! Rest assured! When we include the meaning from its root word, “Tharseo” literally means, “Warm up your heart with courage and good cheer,” or “Radiate courage and good cheer from your heart!” Our gracious Lord knew that His followers would meet up against a wide variety of challenges… physical, emotional and spiritual, and He went out of His way to be understanding and empathetic as they lived their lives of faith and trust alongside Him in ministry. Now that He is at the right hand of the Father, we can easily see that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Son and the Father, was sent to minister to us in this same way, by coming alongside us, entering into our hearts and minds, and bringing us inside the Godhead, where we are able to be encouraged, cheered up, emboldened, and comforted in our discipleship of God. The following passages reveal those circumstances in which ‘Tharseo’ was spoken. Each situation was fascinating and dramatic, and will get some special attention in this blog series on “Take heart!”
Matthew 9:2 = “They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, “Take heart, (‘Tharseo’), son. I forgive your sins.” (NIV).
Matthew 9:22 = “And behold, a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment; For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health. Jesus turned around and, seeing her, He said, ‘Take courage (‘Tharseo’), daughter! Your faith has made you well.’ And at once the woman was restored to health.” (AMP)
Matthew 14: 27 = “Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer (‘Tharseo’)! It is I; do not be afraid.” (NKJV).
Mark 10:49 = “Many rebuked Bartimaeus and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So the disciples called to the blind man, “Cheer up (‘Tharseo’)! On your feet! He’s calling you.” “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (NIV).
John 16:33 = “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me… I have told you these things so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In this world you will have trouble – tribulation, trials, distress and frustration; Be courageous (‘Tharseo’), for I have overcome the world!” (AMP; also John 14:1).
Acts 23:11 = “The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Keep up your courage (‘Tharseo’), Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.” The next day, some of the Judeans formed a conspiracy. They took an oath, saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.” (NRSV).
Regardless of the situation, whether we feel paralyzed and helpless, or traumatized with disease, or are in the midst of a major storm, or suffering from a blindness of one sort or another, or feeling overwhelmed with trouble, or even if we have a target on our backs, we would do well to embrace and live into the words of Jesus to us… Take heart. Be encouraged. Cheer up. Rest assured. Keep our courage. Be of good comfort… “Remember, you can be sure of this, that I will continue to be with you, every day, till this age comes to a close!” (Matthew 28:20).