Do Not Lose Heart

Written by Allan Mitchell for The Life

“Therefore we do not lose heart…for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”– 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16A-18

During a difficult season in my life, affliction, anxiety, and doubt clouded my perspective. Overwhelmed by my current reality, my mind contradicted my heart. I slowly began to only see life through an earthly perspective — forgetting that my current circumstances were momentary and would pass. I focused on them instead of choosing to see that the sun still shines behind life’s dark clouds, despite my murky perspective.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul implores us to embrace a faith perspective. Christ followers are not exempt from adversity. Regardless of how we perceive life or how overwhelming our troubles appear, Paul assures us they are momentary when seen through an eternal perspective, which he defines as assessing our circumstances through our spiritual eyes and not our physical eyes. When we do that, ultimately, our distresses “are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Do you struggle to embrace a healthy perspective amidst life’s adversity? Often, perspective is a heart matter. God knows your situation. Do not lose heart. Jesus reiterates, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Jesus, who experienced every manner of adversity and persecution yet overcame the world, will empower you to walk by faith and not by sight — to embrace an eternal persevering perspective regardless of life’s adversity so you can be “…more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

*Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you promised to be with me in times of trouble. Holy Spirit, help me to fix my eyes on Jesus. Help me to discern life’s adversity with an eternal perspective. Strengthen my resolve to daily immerse myself in your presence and word that I may be able to overcome any circumstance along life’s way. Amen.

Go Deeper — Find the picture of Jesus you like most and really look at it, fixing your eyes on Jesus. After reading this devotional and the verses we’ve linked, does seeing that image change your perspective of things?

Originally posted on: https://www.connectingstreams.com/2019/11/12/do-not-lose-heart/