Don't Lose Heart! Series

This is an outline of a word study on the Greek word translated as losing heart and growing weary. There are antidotes given as a remedy to not lose heart.

The word for “lose heart” is used 6 times in the New Testament. The word is–ekkakeo–Strong's G1573.

Here they are In Biblical Order:

Luk 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart (ekkakeo),

2Co 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart (ekkakeo)

2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart (ekkakeo). Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

Gal 6:9 And let us not grow weary (ekkakeo) while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

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

2Th 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary (ekkakeo) in doing good.

Grouped Categorically:

1-Don’t lose heart–in times of suffering–

1a–Luke 18–times of a lack of justice for wrongs done or being done–

1b–Eph 3:13–times that other people are suffering on our behalf–

2-Don’t lose heart–in times of doing good–

2a–Gal. 6:9–there is a promise of reaping from doing good

2b–2 Thes. 3:13–don’t grow weary in doing good even when others aren’t putting in the work

3-Don’t lose heart–in process of spiritual renewal–

3a-2 Cor. 4:1–don’t lose heart–as we are being transformed from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18) so we don’t lose heart in the process takes place–his transformation is incremental, not exponential–level by level–step by step–don’t lose heart as that is happening

3b–2 Cor. 4:16–don’t lose heart–even though outwardly we waste away–yet inwardly we are being made new (fresh renewal by His Spirit) every day

The charge in all of these categories is to not lose heart.

Antidotes to loss of heart:

According to Merriam-Webster, an antidote is something that “something that relieves, prevents, or counteracts”

So, what are some things that can relieve, prevent, or counteract loss of heart?

1-Persistent Prayer–

1a–Luke 18:1–Jesus shared the parable that people would always pray and not lose heart–

Jesus persisted in these times. In the Garden of Gethsemane is the best example of persisting in prayer and not losing heart. (Matthew 26:36-46)

2-Prized Perspective–

2a-Gal 6:9 is a strong admonish to not lose heart. It’s like someone running a race that only gets the prize if they finish. Paul says in Galatians that there is the prize of a harvest, but it’s not a guarantee–it’s a reward–for doing good–so we can’t lose heart (and give up as we do it). There is a prize.

In the end, the Lord is looking to renew us day by day, to right the wrongs done, and to reward us in the end. All of those are the things that He will do for us. What we have to do, in order to “stay in the game” is to not lose heart.

May God grant us that grace today.

Amen