Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:16–18:
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
Here are seven reasons Paul gives us for why we never give up:
1. Because God Renews Us Daily
Even as life wears us down, God’s Spirit renews us from the inside out. Every morning His mercies are fresh.
📖 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22–23)
2. Because Troubles Are Temporary
What feels unbearable now will not last forever. Compared to eternity, our struggles are momentary.
📖 “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
3. Because Suffering Has Purpose
God uses trials to refine us, test us, and prepare us for greater strength in Him. Pain is never wasted in His hands.
📖 “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” (James 1:3)
4. Because Glory Is Coming
The hardships of this life are producing an eternal glory far greater than we can imagine.
📖 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
5. Because We Don’t Live by Sight
We walk not by what we can see with our eyes, but by faith in God’s promises.
📖 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
6. Because What We See Is Fading
Everything in this world—both good and bad—is temporary. We are citizens of another kingdom.
📖 “This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” (1 John 2:17)
7. Because Eternity Is Secure
Heaven is real, God’s kingdom is unshakable, and our eternal future with Him cannot be taken away.
📖 “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)
Takeaway:
We never give up because our lives are anchored in God’s renewing Spirit, in the reality that troubles are temporary, and in the certainty of eternal glory. Fix your gaze not on what is seen, but on what is unseen—for the unseen is what lasts forever.
