I called out to God many times for understanding and for a word of encouragement as I watched my husband valiantly fight cancer. The answer came in the following scripture:
“Therefore, we do not ‘lose heart.’ Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things, which are seen, but at the things, which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:16-18).
The Apostle Paul was a man who never lost heart because his confidence was in God. Had he lost heart, he could have never survived dangers from rivers and robbers. Five times he received 39 lashes; three times he was beaten with rods and once was pelted with stones. He suffered sleep deprivation, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness. He experienced dangers from countrymen, Gentiles, and false believers. He suffered dangers in the city and in the wilderness. He encountered dangers on the sea and was shipwrecked three times. Any one of these would be enough to dishearten the most ardent believer.
To “lose heart” means to become disheartened. Disheartened means to become discouraged, demoralized, cast down, depressed, disappointed, dismayed, deterred, intimidated, or crushed. The verse, “…we do not lose heart,” is a declarative statement. It does not say, “We should not lose heart.” Nor does it say, “Do not lose heart.” It makes a declaration that we, as Christ followers, DO NOT LOSE HEART, because that is part of our re-born DNA. So, why do trials and disappointments dishearten us? Could it be that we allow fissures of fear to form in our hearts, giving rise to doubt and unbelief?
God calls us to face trials with confidence, knowing that whatever the enemy intends for evil, God will work those things together for good. If our carnal eyes focus on the problem, then the enemy has an inroad to our heart where faith is stored. For the Word tells us that it is with the heart that we believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that we profess our faith (Romans 10:10). If our spiritual eyes focus on God’s Word and the leading of His Holy Spirit, then faith and trust emerge to conquer fear and achieve victory over the enemy of our soul.
We all, at some point in life, struggle with “losing heart.” However, God wants us to know that He built inside of our re-born heart this truth that “we do not lose heart.” He will bolster that truth with special moments that let us know that He not only knows everything that we are going through, but He will show His great love for us in the most extraordinary and personal ways.
My beloved Michael passed away on Wednesday, April 7 at 4:07 p.m. Previously, I had insisted that his hospice room overlook the water, not realizing that God had prepared an amazing gift for Michael, who loved the Blue Angles. Unbeknownst to us, that same Wednesday, the Blue Angles were practicing for their weekend airshow. They caught my eye, as I happened to look outside and see them going through their maneuvers at a great distance away. But then as Michael took his last breath, the Blue Angles turned and passed not once but twice over the water, directly in front of our window and then left. I later discovered that the Blue Angels do Passovers to show their respect. There is no doubt in our hearts, that God sent the Blue Angels in our direction to show His great love for Michael and for the family.
Michael had been given the gift of almost 12 years beyond his terminal diagnosis of two months. During those years, he never lost heart and continued to trust God for the right outcome. And we know that he is now rejoicing pain-free in the presence of the Lord—forever free of all sickness and disease. Thus, we have confidence and know that as long as we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).
As Christians, we are called to be God’s warriors, firm in our relationship with Christ and filled with His Holy Spirit, so that we can stand with unwavering faith in the midst of life’s challenges. For our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. For that reason, we must be ever-ready with truth, righteousness, faith, our gift of salvation, and God’s Word that extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:10-17).
Satan’s goal is to protect his kingdom of darkness by intimidating God’s people with discouragement and depression. The good news is this: God daily calls us to boldly move forward with faith and confidence, trusting in His strength, for “WE DO NOT LOSE HEART,” because our “INWARD MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY.” Therefore, we live that truth and trust Him as He renews our strength while waiting upon Him.
Like the Blue Angels who soar on high, we shall mount up with wings like eagles; we shall run and not be weary; we shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:3.). That day as the Blue Angels passed over, God’s angles escorted Michael to heaven.
PRAYER: FATHER, You placed the established truth that as a believer in Christ I do not lose heart, therefore, I choose to maintain my confidence in You and Your Word. I look to You, for You are my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in You and You help me (Psalm 28:7). In Jesus’ name. Amen.