God's Heart in His Word
One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side...He leaned back against Jesus’ chest... -John 13:23, 25
Reflect
When I’m having a hard day and it feels like everything is spinning, I often stop and put my hands over my heart. Taking a few deep breaths and listening to that pulse beneath my ribs is often enough to center me.
After my kids fall asleep, I love to tiptoe into their rooms and check on them. I’ll gently rest my hand on their little chests, watching the rise and fall of their breath, feeling the thump-thump of their tiny heartbeats, as familiar to me as my own.
If I wake up from a bad dream, my pulse racing and my thoughts all tangled between what’s real and what’s not, the most comforting thing in the world is laying my head on my husband’s chest, letting the rhythm of his heartbeat calm my nerves and soothe me back to sleep.
There is something so calming, centering, and deeply meditative about the human heartbeat. It’s the driving force behind the air in our lungs, the blood in our veins, the very life in our bodies.
This verse in the Gospel of John illustrates the deep comfort that is to be found in the Heart—literal and figurative—of Jesus. For His disciple didn’t lean back against His arm or His leg. He leaned back into His chest, maybe even letting Jesus’ heartbeat soothe whatever burdens he carried.
He struck an intimate pose that illustrates the relationship Jesus invites each of us to. You’re not going to rest your head on any old stranger’s chest, after all. No, it’s a place of intimate comfort and familiarity reserved for the closest relationships—a parent and child, a husband and wife, or very dear friends. This is the relationship Jesus offers to each of us. A place of comfort, peace, and true rest. Let us imitate the beloved disciple and rest our weary heads on His chest, placing our full trust that Jesus’ Sacred Heart is the best comfort we could ever imagine.
Let Us Pray
Dear Jesus, help us draw ever closer to Your Sacred Heart. May we seek rest, comfort, and peace not in the things of the world, but in You alone. You are the source of all that is Good. Let us never grow weary of seeking more of You. Amen.
For Discussion
Where do you turn most often for comfort, peace, or rest?
What are some ways you can turn to Jesus instead?
In His Heart: The 2020 Prayer Pledge // Day 20 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet
Valerie Keinsley is a wife and mama living in central Indiana. She loves WWII novels, decaf chai lattes, and trying to keep houseplants alive. She is striving to find and name beauty in the midst of the mundane, and loves to share her “good lists” on Instagram. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Valerie's posts here.
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