I was talking to a friend last night on the telephone who is struggling right now with the ministry that God has placed him in. He feels useless because his greatest strengths are not being used yet the very things that he isn't very good at are indeed being done through him.
He talked on about how pointless ministry seems sometimes. And to some extent i might agree with him. We as Christians in ministry all around us are required to give 110% of all that we are with no guarantee that we will see any return while we are here on earth.
Not only are we required to go above and beyond but with that requirement often comes a great deal of pain and uncertainty. My life has been one characterized by both those things. And by the time my friend was done venting his frustrations of life, love and ministry all i could tell him was this...
"I can't stop believeing that there is indeed a point to all of this. I can't stop trusting that this God that i love has a purpose for all the pain and suffering in life. That it isn't meaningless as his child...but that it is indeed for my good and his glory even if i won't fully understand until the day that i die. I have to keep believing that that this earth really does not have anything to offer me that is greater than the reward that i will receive in heaven. No, I will not see a return on much of the things that i will do with my life for the glory of God while i live, but only in my death will i then understand. So you see, i can't stop believing, I can't give up and I can't stop pursuing this God who loves me because i really do believe that someday away from this earth I will receive somthing greater."
So when i finally see a return I will be in heaven...and that will be a magnificent day.
1 comment:
I have found...that God does NOT use us "in our greatest strengths" areas. God seems to want to use us when we are weak, in areas that we have conquered, and in areas that we dont feel competent in. That way..it seems, then HE gets the glory instead of US because we did it out of our strenth. Just a thought.
Somehow that "We as Christians in Ministrry" phrase bugs me. I"m Not "in ministry" but I think I do minister. Arn't all Christians to be "in ministry?". Just another thought.
None of us knows what our 'ripple' effect will have on others. I think that is why we must live our lives as we Think God is showing us too, because when we are obiedient..He can be the Orchastra Master, and have our influence go into places we never thougt of.
Any pain or insecurity I have felt/ feel/ must be like nothing compared to how Christ may have felt becoming Human. I just can't fathom that. I always start thinking about that alot around Christmas I guess.
I think that Pain is the great equilizer. We (or I) am strong, and Pain...makes you weak, dependant on others and is very humbling. Maybe that is how Christ really wants us...Weak, so that our strength comes from Him. I want to live as close as I can to how I will live in Heaven, and maybe living in pain, and being in awe of his awesome healing power is getting me there.
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