REST FOR YOUR TROUBLED HEART

For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 1 John 3:20 (NKJV)

Do you struggle with a persistent feeling of guilt? Maybe when you examine yourself, you always seem to fall short somewhere. If that's you, you're not alone. Many people—believers included—struggle to feel good about themselves.

When the deepest beliefs of your heart are negative, they will trouble your emotions and rob you of peace. You'll be more easily tempted into sin, and when you slip up, the vicious cycle of condemnation continues. So how do we interrupt the cycle and quiet our troubled hearts? The Voice translation of today's verse gives us a place to start: "Even though our inner thoughts may condemn us with storms of guilt and constant reminders of our failures, we can know in our hearts that in His presence God Himself is greater than any accusation."

You'd think it would say, "If your heart condemns you, then you need to deal with your heart." But it actually says God is greater than your heart. He's greater than your guilt and disappointment in yourself. He already knows everything you've done or failed to do—and through Jesus, He's dealt with it all.

First John 3:22-23 goes on to say that you can receive anything you ask for when you keep His commandments. And which commandment is that? Simply believe in Jesus.

Over the next few days, I’ll show you how to walk in this rest. When you trust in what Jesus has done for you, not in your own performance, then you're free to pick yourself back up every time you fall. You can be at peace, knowing that nothing can come between you and Him.