Yes, there are times when ministry is difficult, perplexing, overwhelming, stressful, load-bearing, harsh, and/or near-to-the-breaking-point! May I encourage you?
2. Bask in the presence of God.
To bask in something is to “take it all in, to receive its warmth, or bathe in its goodness” (Oxford Languages). Liza Jane, the cat that inhabited our home for many years, knew what it was to bask in the sunshine. Being an indoor cat, she often would begin her day in the east bedroom of our home curled up “receiving the warmth” of the sun. By afternoon, she was taking her 16th nap stretched out in the southwest bedroom “bathing in the goodness” of the sun.
Difficult times in ministry, if we permit it, can make us cold and bitter to the Lord, our wife, our children, our friends, and especially toward the congregation. Before hard times come, and they will, we should be know well what it means to bask in the presence of God, the abiding life in Christ (John 15:1-11).
Have ministry demands cut into your time of basking in His presence? Are you allowing the busyness of ministry to come before your dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, abiding under His shadow (Psalm 91:1-2)?
You know the invitation from Jesus very well. He says to you, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). ”Come to Me” is not a quick read of Scripture and a five-minute prayer because you’ve got a ministry agenda. The most important place you will ever be in your whole lifetime is at the feet of Jesus, unhurried, recognizing your need of Him, pouring out your heart to Him, and listening to Him speak quietly to your soul.
How easy it is to let the person, situation, unmet expectation, worry, fear, etc. become the driver in our life, the idol of our heart, the interrupter of our spiritual rhythm rather than unloading our burden at Jesus’s feet throughout the day and night (1 Peter 5:5-7).
The ministry where God has placed you is His ministry. You are His servant (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The goal in all of ministry is His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31) and the preeminence of Christ (Colossians 1:15-18).
So, before you enter another time of testing and trial, bask in the presence of God.
While you are in the trial, the difficulty, the complicated situation, bask in the presence of God.
All you need is a quiet location, your Bible, a journal, a willing, transparent heart and bended knees. By the way, be sure to silence your phone so that it is not a distraction.
Do you know where the sun is shining in? Have you been there often? Are you receiving the warmth of God’s love, mercy and grace? Are you bathing in His goodness, letting Who He is wash over your soul?
Liza Jane knew what it was to take it all in, to bask in the sunshine. Do you? Begin today! God is waiting for you there.
“Every day walls of depression and gloom are penetrated by the wonderful presence of our God.” (Chuck Swindoll)
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