Do Not Lose Heart

2 Corinthians 4:1, "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."

Have you ever struggled and just wanted to give up? Perhaps, life has become so overwhelming that it seems that you would prefer to throw in the towel. The apostle Paul talked about not losing heart. In 2 Corinthians 4 we can see that the chapter starts and ends with this phrase, “we do not lose heart.” There is a real possibility that a person could simply lose heart. That is an option in life, albeit not the best. You could grow weary and simply give up. But think for a minute what you would be giving up. Is it worth the cost? Is it worth the pain? This word translated “to lose heart” that Paul used in the Greek is defined, “to lose one’s motivation in continuing a desirable pattern of conduct or activity, lose enthusiasm, be discouraged.” (Walter Bauer in his Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature) There certainly is a desirable pattern of conduct for each of our lives. Our loving Father desires for you to walk in His will and way. However, somehow the devil slips in with discouragement, distraction, and depression and we lose enthusiasm to walk in the way that our loving Father has for our lives. The entire chapter in 2 Corinthians 4 is filled with the reasons why the apostle Paul was not going to lose heart. He cannot lose heart because he had Christ to preach. He had a heavenly purpose that had to be fulfilled and that purpose was bigger than his reason to lose heart. He could not lose heart because he saw God working in the lives of other people as he continued to serve his Lord. He could not lose heart because he had a great faith. He knew that God was able. He could not lose heart because he found joy in seeing God’s grace spread to more people. Is there anything that you can see in God’s work or word that brings you joy? He could not lose heart because the trouble he faced was nothing compared to the eternal weight of glory in heaven. Friends, we must never give up and allow the present conflicts within and without to cause us to lose heart. Heaven is a tremendous reward to those who have placed their faith and hope in the Savior, Jesus Christ. Perhaps you need to remind yourself that your problems are not bigger than your God and your difficulties cannot separate you from God’s love. Let me remind you that Elijah was a man who was overcome with stress and worry with life. He was overwhelmed to the point of death. He had lost heart. He was on his emotional death bed. He was fully alive and physically he was no where near death. Yet, emotionally and mentally he was on his death bed. He despaired of his own life. I hope that if this is where you find yourself today, you can lift your eyes long enough to catch a glimpse of the grandeur, glory, and power of the God who is for you and loves you. May you find nourishment for your soul from God’s great book of promises, the Bible. May your soul be fed and your mind renewed. God Bless and have a great week.