Thought for the Week 29 August 2023: ‘We do not Lose Heart

‘So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Suffering and affliction, illness and pain is not something we seek. But sometimes it comes our way, uninvited.

It is easy to feel that it’s not fair - it probably isn’t.

It’s easy to feel that we’ve been misunderstood - we probably have been.

It’s easy to feel that our voice is not heard - that may well be true.

But one thing we can be sure of is that Jesus, the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, was also the Suffering Servant.

‘He was despised and rejected by men; 

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows…’ (Isaiah 53:3,4)

Jesus knows of our loneliness or pain or suffering or rejection. What is more, he is the one person who walks alongside us by His Spirit, bringing his perspective and his peace in the midst of our pain.

I find Paul’s words particularly encouraging because they are spoken from his own experience of suffering - or perhaps in the midst of it. ‘Do not lose heart’, he says. Persevere. Not a fashionable word in an age of instant gratification and high expectations of always living our best life!

Last week in our weekly Bible Study at Brian’s house, four of us were gathered (some away on holiday). We were studying Philippians 4, a chapter full of Paul’s last word of exhortation to the young church in Philippi. Very practical. Amongst other things, he urges two named woman not to disagree, but to lay aside their differences and agree with each other in the Lord. Disagreement caused pain for those caught up in the conflict, but also for those in the community of the church, fellowshipping with them. He also

 Exhorts all the believers:

• to rejoice in the Lord always (he repeats this exhortation 13 times in the 4 short chapters of Philippians!);
• not to be anxious about anything, but instead to pray about everything;
• to focus on whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is right and pure and noble and admirable and praiseworthy- think about such things.

We discussed these verses at length! (Phil 4:2-9). Paul’s words give us encouragement - we are not the only ones who find ourselves in the midst of some kind of trouble, pain or challenge. He gives the disciples tools, or spiritual attitudes, to face such challenges.

However, the thing which has most remained with me during this week are Paul’s words at the end of the chapter, vs12-13: ‘I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do all things through him who gives me strength.’ I shared these verses with two other people last week who the Lord brought along my path, one of them whose daughter is suffering, and one who is having particular challenges in her Caring role. They took encouragement in knowing that God knows their pain and suffering. Not only that, but he meets them in their need and is able to give them (and us) peace which passes all understanding, and strength to do all things.

So we do not lose heart… for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

May God give you the grace to be content in any and every situation, to think on what is good, and to persevere. May you know his strength and his peace today - you and those you love. Amen.