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Heart (Losing Heart)

‘Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart’ (2 Corinthians 4:1).  In the face of numerous onslaughts, challenges to his apostleship, and his responsibility “for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28), Paul still writes, we do not lose heart (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). For he is preoccupied with the glories of the ministry of Christ and the mercy by which it is given to him.” (Orthodox Study Bible, 2 Corinthians 4:1)


“When a heavy torpor of weakness and sadness rules over the soul, it is the enemy who holds sway over it and leads it against its own desire. It is force that holds sway over nature and the enemy who holds sway over the soul. That is why our Lord spoke of vigilance of soul and of body lest the body sink into a heavy sleep and the soul into a sluggishness born of timidity. . . . This is why “we do not lose heart” in the ministry confided to us [see 2 Co 4:16).” (St. Ephraim the Syrian)


“It is good, then, not to fall; or, if we fall, to rise again. And should we fall, we should not despair and so estrange ourselves from the Lord's love. For if He so chooses, He can deal mercifully with our weakness. Only we should not cut ourselves off from Him or feel oppressed when constrained by His commandments, nor should we lose heart when we fall short of our goal. Rather, let us learn that a thousand years in the sight of the Lord are but a single day, and a single day is a thousand years (Psalm 90:4). Let us be neither hasty nor tardy, and let us be always ready to make a new start. If you fall, rise up. If you fall again, rise up again.” (St. Peter of Damascus)


“One of the worst things we can do when we are deeply discouraged, feel like we are losing heart, having doubts and finding our faith shaken, is to complicate this by beating ourselves up for feeling this way. Christ tells us where our treasure is that is where our heart is also (Matthew 6:21). Times like this are times to reassess where we have been focusing our heart, how we have been reacting to external circumstances and the evil and troubles of the world (and the troubles in our lives) and how it is all affecting us inwardly. It is a time to gently remind ourselves to refocus on Him and His promise to be with us always (Matthew 28:20). The Crucifixion was followed by the Resurrection. The two events are never separate and that is the pattern of our lives in this world. Ups and downs in life are inevitable as is suffering, but we have the promise of the ultimate good outcome and we need to hold on to that during the down times.” (Sacramental Living Ministries)


“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (St. Luke, Luke 18:1, St. Paul, Galatians 6:9)

“Losing heart is not discouragement, disappointment, fear, testing or questioning. In the garden, before his arrest, Jesus Christ was stressed to the point of sweating blood. He kept throwing Himself on the ground and repeatedly cried out to God. Three times he pleaded with His disciples to pray with Him. Yet in all this, Jesus did not lose heart…What does it mean to lose heart? The Greek word for lose heart comes from two words combined – evil plus not. It means to not give into evil.” (Pastor Steve King)

“The heart represents all that is potential in us that is wholly human, as we are created in the very image and likeness of God. But the heart, while it is essentially good, is also susceptible to corruption: there good and evil struggle for dominance." (Vigen Guroian)

“The clear understanding that we humans are reaping the consequences of our very own actions should in no way cause us to lose heart - that would be to deny the possibility of repentance and forgiveness.” (Dr. Elizabeth Theokritoff)

“…a long period of “working” is required before growth becomes manifest, we must not lose heart if we do not obtain immediate results. After all, spiritual growth is not a matter of applying liquid to a dry cube which suddenly swells and doubles in size. Nevertheless, we should not underestimate the potential of small beginnings, whether in ourselves or in the world.” (OCPM 7/12/2017)


 

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