So we do not lose heart.” 2 Corinthian 4:16
One simple sentence but so often not the reality of our lives. We do lose heart. If I am honest, I have been struggling with this a lot lately. We put our house on the market 42 days ago. It was not a decision we would have made had the Lord not moved us in a powerful way. It was clear what we were called to do. My husband and I immediately obeyed, worked fervently for 2 weeks, and had the house on the market 16 days after we felt the call.
42 days later our house is still on the market. Lots of lookers but no buyers. Bills are due and our finances are quickly depleting. I start to lose heart over and over again. Every morning, I get into my yellow chair to spend time with the Lord and remind myself that his mercies are new every day. I start the time feeling discouraged then I read of His faithfulness. Throughout Scripture, I learn about the God who loved me so much that he sent his only Son to live and die for me. I read the promises of a God who provides for his people, even the lilies of the field (Matthew 6:28). God tells us to make our requests to him. I do that and have to then trust he will work his good and perfect will in our lives.
As I see the faithfulness of our God, I realize that I have a choice. I can choose to believe in the promises of God even as there remains a house to sell and bills to pay or I can choose to listen to all my doubts, believing God’s promises are not true for me. The first choice brings peace and hope. The second choice brings discouragement and a loss of heart.
These two choices are put before us every day. All of our lives have trials and tribulation. Your trials may not be selling your home, but they are just as real to you as selling this house is to me. Like me, you have a choice — choose to believe God’s promises for you or choose to believe the doubts, the lies of the enemy.
Do not lose heart! Make the choose to believe the truths of Scripture. Replace the negative thoughts, the tendencies to discouragement and despair — take it all to the foot of the cross. There you can look up at your Savior who gave his life that you may live. In him, you not only have life but life abundant (John 10:10).