Renewing Our Strength #6

As some of you know, one chapter that has been very meaningful to me throughout my ministry had been II Corinthians 4.  It begins and ends the same way, and really resonated this past month when so many of us were laid low. I begins this way: 

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

and ends this way:

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 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.

As Paul wrote these words, he had been through a lot of stressful situations, including writing this letter to a church that was resistant and angry with him.  He was pushing hard to get to see all the churches he could, while at the same time collecting an offering to take to suffering saints in Jerusalem as soon as he could.  He kept hitting roadblocks and persecution along the way. It was wearing him down emotionally and he was wearing out physically, but he refused to give up or get down, to lose heart. Why he depended daily or the Lord to renew his strength.  He was able to looking beyond the stresses on his strength here and now to the glory beyond. His strength for the long haul came one day at a time. The Lord knew what he needed that day and gave it; He'll do the same for you.