2 Corinthians 4: Do Not Lose Heart

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ 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.

Paul was one person who could have given many excuses for giving up. Everywhere he served, he ended up arrested, beaten, imprisoned, or worse. Far from a health and wealth teacher, he more closely resembled the truth he would elsewhere teach that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. He knew from personal experience!

In 2 Corinthians 4, he wraps up his challenge by saying, “We do not lose heart.” Why? God renewed him daily. Eternity would be far better than the present. Ultimately, his focus was not on the problems of the moment, but the future joys of heaven.

There seems to be a common misunderstanding about the future among people today. The focus, even among many Christians, is to live “in the moment” rather than the past or the future. But this can be rather frustrating when “the moment” is changing a dirty diaper or bouncing a check or breaking up with a boyfriend. Living in the moment doesn’t work during life’s tough times.

Instead, Paul tells us to fix our eyes on what is unseen and eternal. Why? Because the eternal future of the believer will be perfect. Despite today’s imperfections, there will be a day when we will see Jesus face to face. Forever. Because of this hope, we can truly say that no matter what today may bring, we “do not lose heart.”

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Dillon Burroughs is the author and coauthor of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of all 31,173 verses of the Bible at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.