It’s Monday Grace!
vasovagal syncope
Medical personnel and sufferers will know what that means. Basically, it’s a primary reason people faint. Something happens to trigger a fear response. The vagus nerve signals for the blood vessels in the body to dilate, become larger. That reduces blood pressure and blood begins to move to the lower parts of the body. That means the brain has less blood and receives less blood, causing light-headedness or a blackout. Once the body is in a horizontal position, the nerve relaxes and the blood system returns to normal. The fainting spell usually doesn’t last long, but the embarassment might last a while.
I have my guesses as to why the body is made to do this when we encounter something disturbing, but I have already stepped past my realm of expertise. Let it be enough to say that fear causes physical stress that affects our hearts. Disheartening. Or in the Latin equivalent, discouraging.
The devil is a discourager. He takes advantage of our fears and worries to drain the power from our hearts. When our hearts weaken, our resolve and assurance are weakened as well. We may not fall down in a faint, but we might try to hide away or decide not to go forward with what God is leading us to do.
Again, the devil is not all-powerful nor present everywhere. He does not have to touch you to make you worry about illness or danger. He may just put a discouraging word in a news item for you to see. He works in rumors and lies. He affects our perspective of our enemies so that we see them as much larger than they are. He darkens the hope of the future so that we fear tomorrow. He overwhelms us with bad news so that we forget the good news of the Lord’s love.
But the Lord renews our hearts. He is our strength and hope. He promises good to us. When we look to Him, we see His smile and remember that we are safe in His hands.
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9, NKJV)
Keep going forward. Keep looking to Jesus. The good is coming. The investment will pay off. Pray without ceasing. I have heard people use this verse to discourage others. They suggest that those who lose heart will not be saved. The truth is that this is about following the Lord through trials and trouble. Keep going because stopping, losing heart, will get you down.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, NKJV)
We may be growing older, but as we look at Jesus we leap and rejoice as young people. When you find that your body is failing, remember that your future is brighter every day. Your hope is in the love of your Lord.
Don’t lose heart.
Psalm 91 is a wonderful encouragement for anyone who struggles. The promises of the Lord are sure.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”” (Psalm 91:1–16, NKJV)
Grace for my Heart 