iShineInMinistry

1 Corinthians 7:20

Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

Do you ever just have one of those days (or weeks, or even months) when you feel completely and utterly done with the calling God has given you for ministry? Do you feel tired, weary, drained or discouraged and think it must be time to retire, move into a season of rest or just be so still that you become a “sideline Christian”? You get one too many phones calls from the person struggling with the same sin and think, “I clearly am not doing this right” or you forget to pay the rental fee for an outreach and your supplies never show up or you get to the point where you do not even want to get out of bed in the morning. The thought of becoming “Sleeping Beauty” seems more and more appealing, except, you do not want Prince Charming to wake you up any time soon!

I know that I am feeling like this is the season I am in right now…it’s pretty draining (or that could be the lack of sleep having its effects). However, I also know that God is still here even when I do not see the exponential progress happening in record timing. I know that God is here while I am still waiting for an answer or for the next great thing to happen. He even was kind enough to remind me as I did my evening devotions last night.

When we have those “Eeyore moments” in ministry, we have to remember that time spent in the valley helps us to realize when we are changing to the mountains. The valleys have lots of growth, water to feed our souls and opportunities to see how much faith we really do have in the Lord when things are not so sunny and bright.

The calling that we have did not come with the promise of rainbows and glitter all the days of our ministry lives…we will have wonderful moments of joy in the Lord and we will have moments that deplete us so much that all we can do is cry out for God to be our refuge and strength, to sustain us and help our unbelief. When those times arise, we simply cannot despair and think that we are doing it all wrong. If we were perfect at this all the time, why would we even need a Savior? And we all know that we DEFINITELY NEED A SAVIOR!

So when the hard days, the tragic days, the tiring days and the seemingly hopeless days come, please remember that God called you for all of this ministry, good times and bad…and walk worthy of the calling in which you were called!

Ephesians 4:1

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Are you feeling discouraged and ready to call it quits in ministry.  Please do not give up – Remember to cling to Jesus and let Him use you no matter what the outcome. This is the calling He has given you and as Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”