Don't Lose Heart

"Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." (Ephesians 3:13)

Paul finishes this section by telling the Ephesians not to lose heart over his tribulations, difficulties, pressure, and pain. But when he says "for you, Gentiles" in Ephesians 3:1 and again in Ephesians 3:13, he isn't trying to guilt them into feeling sorry for him. He's actually saying something tender. Do you ever wonder if you're worth anything? Do you ever wonder if you're valuable to God? Well, Paul says, "I am suffering because of the message of God's love to you." That's how much God loves you. If you ever wonder about your value, look at the cross. In Romans 5:8, Paul puts it this way: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God sent His Son to die for you while you were still a sinner, still an enemy, still far off. That's how valuable you are to Him.

Being positive doesn't mean you stick your head in the sand and pretend the tribulations aren't there. Paul never denied his suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11, he lays it all out. Beaten with rods three times. Stoned once. Shipwrecked three times, a night and a day in the deep. In perils of waters, robbers, his own countrymen, the Gentiles, the city, the wilderness, the sea, and false brethren. Weariness, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness. You want to talk about tribulations? Paul could write the book. And still he tells those Gentiles, "Don't you lose heart."

How? Because he saw God's perspective. He knew whatever pain was in front of him was temporary. This light affliction, set against an eternity of bliss, joy, and God's presence, was lasting only a moment. In Philippians 4:10-13, Paul says he has learned to be content in any circumstance, whether full or hungry, whether he has much or little, because he can do all things through Christ Who strengthens him.

There's a story that gripped me shortly after Israel was attacked on October 7, 2023 and suffered casualties of over 1,300. An article came out titled, "95-Year-Old Israeli Reservist Joins the War Effort." His name is Ezra Yakhin. He was just nineteen when he first went to war during Israel's 1948 War of Independence. Though 95 years old, when asked why he was signing up to defend his country, he said, "I need to be here, because any day I'm not here is one less day I can teach the youth about this land and what we need to do." He could have sat back, but he knew the battle was worth it.

That's not denying reality. That's recognizing the battle is worth it. It's almost like the spirit of Caleb came upon him, who, in his old age, looked at the mountain full of giants and said, "Give me that mountain." Being positive doesn't mean pretending the giants aren't there. It means knowing God's power can match any circumstance, any tribulation, any difficulty in front of you.

So don't lose heart. While other people around you are negative, you can lift them up. You can see what they can't see, and you can point them to the only hope there is, which is Jesus Christ. The pressure is real, but it's temporary. Eternity is right around the corner.

Reflection: What tribulation are you tempted to lose heart over today, and how does eternity change the way you carry it?

Dear Heavenly Father, I don't want to lose heart. Give me Your perspective, so I can see that this pressure is temporary and Your joy is forever. Help me be someone who lifts others up and points them to Jesus. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: "Staying Positive in a Negative World": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/d6xvd3t/11-staying-positive-in-a-negative-world-eph-3-1-13