For more than a decade, Nashville native Jillian Edwards has written and recorded music through the lens of faith. It shows on her 2020 release, Meadow.
She says, “If my biggest dream for my latest album comes true, it would be that someone who is walking through the worst day of their life could hear these songs and have peace take over their heart knowing that God is crazy about them, and He works all things together for good.” Meadow was one of my top 10 albums of 2020.
The album is best described as an intimate worship experience with an ethereal tone. If you enjoy Kristene DiMarco's Where His Light Was, Audrey Assad's Evergreen, and Ellie Holcomb's Red Sea Road, her catalog is an excellent addition to your music collection.
Jillian’s engaging music and thought-provoking lyrics are something to truly savor. The artist expresses her prayers to God, allowing listeners to eavesdrop on her vertical offerings and captivating ballads, one of her strengths heard throughout her latest EP, Let Your Heart Not Be Troubled.
Jillian is an anointed singer-songwriter, who has a profound way of bringing listeners closer to God with her poignant words, tender singing, and inspirational truths. So, it was a treat when I talked to her about her latest song, “Let Your Heart Not Be Troubled.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
"Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" reminds those who worry of who’s ultimately in control of our lives: God. We carry burdens on our shoulders. Sometimes life asks questions we don't have answers for. Sometimes our hearts are bursting with joy and sometimes they're breaking with sorrow. In both and all feelings in between, we can remind our hearts what’s true—and wait. Wait upon the Lord. And against all hope, hope. As John 14:1 puts it, “Let not your heart be troubled.”
For this song, at the beginning of the pandemic, my grandmother, who lived in Texas, passed away. I couldn’t attend the funeral. So, I watched the service via livestream. My cousin read something I wrote for her at the service.
My uncle, who’s a preacher, preached at her service. And the first thing he said was “let not your heart be troubled.” He was quoting the words of Jesus in John 14. And he was also providing words of comfort to remember that we don’t need to fear or be troubled—even during a sorrowful time. He used that King James language, which stayed in my heart.
What Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
John 14:1-4(NKJV): “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Psalm 55:22(NIV): "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken."
Romans 8:28(VOICE): "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan."
Philippians 4:6-7(NIV): “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 12:2(VOICE): "Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete."
1 John 4:18(NKJV): "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
Matthew 11:28 (NIV): “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV): “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Psalm 61:1-2(NIV): “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth, I call to you, when my heart is faint.”
2 Corinthians 5:17(NIV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
What is the takeaway message?
This was the song I needed to write after my grandmother’s passing. In dwelling on what it means to let not your heart be troubled, this song includes the prayers from God’s Word that guide us into His peace. Prayers that help us wait on Him.
As humans living in a broken world, we’re not always at peace. There’s also sorrow and despair. It’s not about fixing our feelings. It’s about waiting on the Lord. He will supply the peace that surpasses all understanding, as Philippians 4:6 puts it. Trusting Him is where peace is found.
I'll be learning for the rest of my days what it means to deeply abide in God’s love—how to seek His face, how to invite and enjoy Him in all kinds of moments, how to be awake to and receive the invitation He constantly extends to me—and all of us—to be with Him.
"Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" reminds me that His friendship is not frail. It doesn’t wither away when everything else, including my strength, does. To press onward in knowing Him is the thrill and hope of life, and this song wakes me up to it. I hope it sparks some inner flame for you, too.
Lyrics
Let not your heart be troubled Let not your faith be swayed Even when the mountains start to shake
Let not your hope grow weary Let not your peace give way Even when the levy starts to break
Wait, wait, wait upon the Lord to give you strength Wait, wait, wait upon the Lord to give you strength
Let not your heart be troubled Let not your vision fade Remember all the promises He’s made
Come all ye heavy laden Come here and find your rest Come and lay your head upon his chest
Wait, wait, wait upon the Lord to give you strength Wait, wait, wait upon the Lord to give you strength
He will carry all the weight Trade your worry for his grace His yoke is easy, His burden light Lift your head up, lift your eyes
Let not your heart be troubled Let not your flame go dim Everything you need You’ll find in Him Everything you need You have in Him
Closing Thoughts
Get to that place where you are in humble submission to God. Don’t play it safe. Take a chance and ask for Him to be real in your life. You’ll never see true beauty if you don’t fully submit to Him.
More than just intellectual assent, God wants to be at the center of your heart’s desires. We change our minds quickly, but our hearts are more devoted.
Earth isn’t your permanent home. So be free from the restlessness of this world. And enter the true rest that only comes from living eternally with Jesus Christ.
For me, this song has become a personal worship anthem to sing daily and to remember, as Pastor B.C. Newton puts it, “everything under the sun is meaningless.”
Theologian and philosopher St. Augustine says it perfectly, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” God accepts you no matter what you’ve done or how you’re feeling.
You’re a work in progress. So have faith and let the Lord work everything together for your good. Spend time with Him; He’ll redeem and restore you.
You’re not living in your life’s final chapter. God's still writing your redemption story. He wants you to know that He's faithful to complete what He's started in those who've put their hope and trust in Jesus for salvation.
“Let Your Heart Not Be Troubled” celebrates the freedom that He promises in His Holy Word. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
You’re a new creation on the inside. God wants you to believe in the freedom that you have on the cross of Jesus. You're free from fears, addictions, insecurities, and perfectionism. Jesus came to die for you so that you can live in Him.
This song includes a testimony of submission to the Lord that you can use as a prayer for freedom from your struggles. Your weaknesses are nothing to hide.
In fact, because of your weaknesses, God's grace and strength are revealed. You can't know everything, and you're not in control. But trusting God is assurance that you don't have to be afraid.
God is present to pick you up when you fall. The challenge is to pick an area of your life that you've been trying to control. And instead, step out and put your hope and trust in Him.
“Let Your Heart Not Be Troubled” connects to the biblical truth found in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
God loves you so much. So, lean on Him and He’ll give you strength. Live out the lifegiving words of this song: “Let not your heart be troubled/Let not your vision fade/Remember all the promises He’s made.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, and an avid music collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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