“You’re a minister…it must be nice to only work on Sunday.” If I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me I would be a very rich man. I know that it is usually said as a joke and honestly it doesn’t really bother me all that much. However, there are some people that wonder, “What do you do all day?” So I thought I would try and let you behind the proverbial “curtain.”
My desire is not to elevate what a minster does…my desire is to elevate what God does in and through the lives of real people. It’s not about me…it should never be about me…it should always about Jesus. So, with that in mind let me share with you what I hope to do with this blog. 3 Things…
(1) I want to share with you some of the real life struggles, difficulties, and doubts that I go through as a minister.
(2) I want to share with you the moments of victory that the Lord allows on a regular basis in my own life and in the lives of the ones I get to serve.
(3) Finally, I want to share some Scriptures that I love and others that I wrestle with along the way.
Every post won’t include ALL of those things, but I’m hoping that each post will encourage, challenge, and motivate us all to cherish Jesus with every breath we have. While what is shared will be TRUE stories and TRUE events that have happened in my ministry life the people themselves to which these stories and events are attached will remain nameless. So, here we go…
Its the week of Thanksgiving, and I have so much to be thankful for but my heart is heavy. Monday, I got some news from a friend and brother in Christ that was the exact opposite of what I had been continually pleading with God to hear. The disease is progressing. As I met with my friend there were no words that seemed to fit, no words that could comfort, no words that could take it all away. The minister is supposed to have words for every situation…I didn’t.
To be honest, I was frustrated that my prayer did not get answered the way that I had begged God to answer. I had prayed for miraculous healing…I know God can do that…I have seen Him do it in other lives. I have watched Him do things that made doctors scratch their heads and unbelievers believe. Healing is the Lord’s to give! But it hasn’t come yet. I need you to know that this is a worthy man, with a great family, healing would be an incredible testimony to the congregation I serve. If God would just step into this situation and heal His name would be magnified…people would know that he still works in our lives. But, the answer I got Monday was the opposite of that. I could hear the enemies thoughts rising in my head…God is letting you down.
I don’t know how this situation is going to turn out. I wish I did. Here, however is what I do know. I heard a preacher say this years ago and it has stuck…When life stinks (as it often does) and your are going through it (whatever “it” is) it is then that you find out if you walk by faith or if you walk by sight. If you walk by faith you will get better; if you walk by sight you will get bitter. Now, the better doesn’t necessarily mean my friend will get the healing that I am continuing to pray for him…instead it means that regardless of how the situation turns out God will be magnified and my friends spirit will be at peace.
These words are medicine for my heavy heart…
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.” Psalm 27:1-6
I trust you Lord. I refuse to give bitterness a foothold in my life. I confess this is NOT what I wanted, but I choose to trust you anyway!
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