Do Not Lose Heart

The admonition to “not lose heart” is found a number of times in the New Testament, beginning with Jesus teaching about prayer and trusting God to give and bless. “He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.” (Luke 18:1)

Likewise, the apostle Paul told the Galatians, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” (Gal. 6:9). And he encouraged the Ephesians, saying, “I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory” (Eph. 3:13).

Twice in the 4th chapter of second Corinthians, Paul would say why he and his companions did not lose heart, and give the reasons for it: “since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart” (4:1), and “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (4:16,17).

All of these admonitions to “not lose heart” to different disciples in different circumstances strongly imply that the walk of faith will at times be difficult and strong reasons are needed to keep going. This is true—and so with the admonitions we are reminded of the great rewards of faithfulness.

Then the Hebrew writer goes even farther in this type of exhortation, calling on the example of Jesus to encourage us when things have gotten tough, and appear as though they might be soon be getting even tougher: “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (Heb. 12:3,4)

Yes, the walk of faith can be difficult, but the scriptures present it as a profoundly worthwhile endeavor based on the current and continual provisions of God, the reward of glory that will come to the faithful, and the great example of Jesus, our Savior.. So DON’T LOSE HEART.