Our Hope
Not Losing Heart During Grief
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16
The death of a close family member, let alone your child, is a common and powerful cause of stress.
Lauren and I had just lost Christopher, and yet we had a profound and unexpected feeling of peace and hope. As we held our son in our arms, we just had peace.
Part of that was certainly the Holy Spirit giving us peace and hope. We are so thankful for how God’s Spirit works in and through us.
I believe it was also due to the Scripture we had been reading to ourselves and Christopher. Reading through and thinking about helpful passages just brought us hope and peace. One of those passages was 2 Corinthians 4.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes to the church in Corinth to defend his ministry as an apostle. In chapter 4, he begins a transition from his explanation of the gospel and gospel ministry to a discussion of future hope despite current suffering. Paul was involved in the ministry of the Spirit and the ministry of righteousness (2 Cor. 3:8-9), but some were casting doubt on that, in part because of the apostle’s suffering on earth. Instead of reacting shamefully, Paul chose to press on in his ministry, never losing heart (2 Cor. 4:1-2). Even if the gospel were to be veiled, Paul hoped in the sovereign God who oversees everything (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Paul did not preach himself, but Christ (2 Cor. 4:5-6).
Paul treasured the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:6). He also recognized that we carry this treasure in earthen vessels, in part to show the excellence of the power of God (2 Cor. 4:7). He sums up this oxymoronic reality in verses 8-10,
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
This happened so that Jesus’ life might be manifest in Paul’s body (2 Cor. 4:10). The death of Christ was at work in Paul, but the life of Christ was manifest as well (2 Cor. 4:11-12).
Paul believed, and so he spoke (2 Cor. 4:13). He believed that the one who raised Christ from the dead would also raise all those who believe in him (2 Cor. 4:14). As this grace extended to more and more people, thanksgiving increased to the glory of God (2 Cor. 4:15).
So, Paul did not lost heart, even though his “outer self” was wasting away (2 Cor. 4:16). Paul knew that his “inner self” was being renewed day by day, and that this relatively light affliction was preparing eternal glory beyond comparison as he looked past the seen things to the unseen (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Those unseen things are eternal, while the things we see around us are temporary.
Although we grieve the loss of our son, the hope we have in Christ keeps us from losing heart. Because of his completed work on the cross and the free gift of salvation, we look forward to an eternity with Christopher and our savior.
This is part three of my CHD Awareness Week series. To read the previous entry, click the button below:
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