Do Not Lose Heart

Perhaps you are someone who is thinking about giving up? I am so thankful the Bible never says that Christians will not grow discouraged. As a matter of fact, it guarantees that there will be seasons of discouragement that come to our lives. So what are we to do in those times of discouragement?

The Bible says, “Do not lose heart.” My aim in this writing is to identify several areas of the Christian walk that is easy to grow discouraged in. The Holy Spirit does not leave alone in times of discouragement but is faithful to help us. When we use the effective power of God’s Word to fight discouragement, we find it faithful.

If you are someone who has grown discouraged, you should not feel unspiritual nor should you feel unqualified to do the work of ministry. Pastor’s who preach that life should be comfortable and easy are not preaching the true Gospel. So do not let anyone tell you that you are not, “Trusting in God” or “You need more faith.” For the Christ follower, the question is not will we at times grow discouraged, because the obvious answer is, “Yes!” Rather, the question should be, what will we do in times of discouragement? Will look to the Lord for help as David did in Psalms 121? Will we trust in the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit that lives within us? Will we look to God’s Word and rest in its great and precious promises?

Let us examine each of the four times the Bible tells us not to lose heart and discover its truths together!

Do Not Lose Heart In Praying
Jesus told a wonderful parable in Luke 18:1. The Parable is about an unjust judge. The judge does not represent God, but stands in contrast to God. The point of the parable is that if wicked people can be swayed to give justice, then how much more so will God, who is holy and righteous execute justice?

When telling this Parable, Jesus says something that every Child of God should cling too. He says that we, “Ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Oh, how I appreciate this verse. It is okay for me to become discouraged, but not okay to stay discouraged. What do I do in seasons of discouragement? According to Jesus, I pray! Prayer is the effective remedy for not losing heart.

Do Not Lose Heart In Serving
Peter writes in his Epistle to exiled Christians, “…Whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory, and dominion forever and ever. Amen” I Peter 4:11.

How wonderful this passage of Scripture is. Think about what Peter is saying to the Church. When we serve God, we should do so in the strength He supplies. Do you know one way I can tell I am working on something that God does not want me focused on? There is not strength to do the tasks. However, when I am laser focused on what God has truly called me to do, I can go and go and go and keep going.

What is the difference? The difference is doing the work of ministry in the strength that God supplies. Do you go to your job in God’s strength? Are you raising your family in God’s strength? Do you serve God with the strength He supplies or do you do everything in your own strength? I have found that my strength is not sufficient. I must have the strength of the Lord!

The purpose of our serving God in His strength is that God gets all the glory. Have you seen people serve God and then brag about their accomplishments? They are not giving the proper glory to God. When we serve God in a way that we know we could not continue on without His help, then we are truly glorifying the Lord with our service. This protects us from growing discouraged and losing heart.

Do Not Lose Heart In Sickness
I watched my dad suffer for years with chronic pain. My heart goes out to those who fight chronic pain on a daily basis. I especially want to encourage you because God’s Word has some great promises for you.

First, I would remind you that Paul suffered greatly in this life. Can you imagine the pain he lived with as he wrote, “I bear in my body the marks of Jesus” Galatians 6:4. He meant all the beatings, all the floggings and all the stonings he endured. Can you imagine the long-term effects this had on Paul’s physical health?

Yet it is Paul who writes to believers encouraging us with this amazing thought, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” 2 Corinthians 4:17. Think about what Paul calls suffering. He calls them “Momentary” and “Light” compared to eternity. He also says that our sufferings are preparing us for an eternal weight of glory. This gave me so much comfort when my father passed in January 2017.

I knew that he exchanged a broken body for a glorified body. He exchanged pain for joy. He exchanged sickness for all that Heaven holds! You and I will have that same experience when it is our time to enter the shores of Heaven.
In the meantime, do not lose heart. Prayerfully ponder 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” What a promise!

Do Not Lose Heart In Suffering
We often think of James 5 as a chapter on sickness because it instructs us to anoint sick people with oil and pray over them the prayer of faith. While this is true, the chapter is not really about sickness, but about the sufferings of life.

Even in James 5:13, the author uses a Greek word for suffering that means to suffer from the cares of life. So James writes, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” Just as Jesus gave us prayer as the remedy for guarding against discouragement, so James tells us that prayer is the remedy for fighting suffering.