Hang in There

I believe that God is good. Not because I’m good but because He is God.  I believe that God will build His church.  Not because I am anything great but because He is God. I believe that God has a special purpose for my life.  Not because I deserve it but because He is God. I believe that just like Joseph in the Book of Genesis, God will use difficulties, trials and testings to grow you, stretch you and mold you, all for the purpose of His being glorified. But those times of hardship can cause us to feel alone, unworthy of our position and empty of worth.

God appeared before a discouraged and empty prophet and said this in 1 Kings 19:

^{1 Kings 19:11} And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. ¹³ And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁴ He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” ¹⁵ And the Lord said to him, “Go"

Is the stress of ministry worth it? Elijah wanted to quit. 

Four questions to ask in the midst of discouragement.

Is God loving? – Jeremiah 31:3

           the Lord appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Am I trusting? – Proverbs 3:5,6

          Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

You're not trusting God with all your heart, if you're leaning on your own understanding. If you’ve gone to a conference or read a book or saw something online that makes you feel unworthy as a pastor because of another church, another ministry or another pastor, you need to trust God and His purposes for YOU.

Am I casting? – 1 Peter 5:7

          casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

If you are carrying a great burden and feel all alone, learn to pray to God in a way that is similar to sharing your deepest pain, struggles and complaints with a close friend.  This style of prayer is called “the Psalms.”

Am I faithful? – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Keep planting, keep watering, keep praying, keep preaching, keep teaching, keep loving, keep forgiving, keep DOING.

God is faithful.