Paul, after many, many, many trials, told us he didn’t lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4)
But there are times I’ve lost heart, even with a much easier life than Paul’s. Perhaps you have too.
Fortunately, Paul told us how to not lose heart.
How to not lose heart
First,
Be grounded in spiritual truth. The fact is we, followers of Jesus Christ, are under God’s care. He is working on us now, and will continue until the day of Christ Jesus, to mold us into the image of His Son (Philippians 1:6, Romans 8:29). We have been granted eternal life (John 3:15). Christ will present us to the Father holy and blameless (Colossians 1:22).
Second,
Focus on spiritual realities, not the problems we face. “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)
Third,
Don’t get mired in the problems, but in the results God is producing. “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
Fourth,
Look at the eternal spiritual reality. “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Don’t lose heart as you learn how to not lose heart!
Keep at it.
Keep building up your knowledge of spiritual truth.
Keep practicing where you place your focus.
(But, of course, jump when a car is coming at you! Don’t ignore reality.)
