We do not Lose Heart!

By Shelly Burke, Editor, Nebraska Family Times

(from Google Images)

Several months ago in a post titled "Lifting Up in Prayer"  how my prayer list just seemed to grow longer and longer. Since that time God has answered several of those prayers; several people had follow-up tests to see if cancers had spread and they had not, and one very specialized scan found absolutely no tumors, when the symptoms indicated the worst. There were many prayers of thanksgiving on the days of those positive results!  

However, since that day more people have been added to my prayer list and the lists of  many others. Friends and acquaintances continue to experience medical problems, financial problems, and personal problems. It is difficult to see others suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and it’s very discouraging to realize life isn’t turning out as we had planned, especially when we can’t see how things are going to work out.    

I know that I am not the only one to grow disheartened by a growing prayer list and circumstances that affect friends and family members. As Paul told the Corinthians (and therefore, us), “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (1 Corinthians 4:8-9 and 16)

Life is unpredictable. But these words tell us that we do not need to despair; we won’t be crushed, we won’t be abandoned, we won’t be destroyed…we do not lose heart, because we are sure of our faith. We can be absolutely positive that our Father in heaven will never, ever leave us!

(from Google Images)

Although we may be wasting away—literally or figuratively—inside, our heart and soul and mind are being renewed every day (2 Corin. 4:16) through our Bible study, prayer, and worshiping with other believers. The things we are facing today are “momentary”—lasting only while we are here on earth. When we believe that Jesus died and rose to forgive our sins, we know that through His grace, we will experience “the eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corin. 4:17).

                                                                                                      

Renew yourself today. Read a few chapters in your Bible. Pour your heart out to the Lord in prayer. Know that He is with you and hears your words. Feel joy that you will experience eternal glory beyond all comparison.

“Give ear to my words, o Lord;

consider my groaning.

Give attention to the sound of my cry,

my king and my God,

for to You do I pray.”

Psalm 5:1-2

Lord, You know what we each are experiencing today. You know our troubles and our worries. Thank you for your promise of eternal life! Amen.

I’m also blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is.

Check out today’s post, titled “Teach Your Children Well.”