When trouble comes in ministry, and it will, you will feel all alone, even in the midst of many people as well as in the quietness of your study. In those moments, hours, days, will you consider the previous two posts and key in on today’s word of encouragement?
2. Bask in the presence of God
3. You are not alone.
For all of us whom God has privileged to serve in His ministry, we all have experienced difficult days, are in a hard time, or will be in the future.
Consider the company you keep:
Jesus Christ
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. . . . Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.(1 Peter 4:1, 12-14)
Paul
I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (Galatians 6:17)
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. (Philippians 3:10)
In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
The known & unknown thousands
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Hebrews 11:32-40)
Friend, you are in company that none of us are worthy of. Take heart! God has never left you. He will not forsake you. You know all this. Soak your soul in these precious truths and press on! The final chapter has not been written. As I was writing this, I could hear playing from another room in our house the song, “The Best Is Yet to Come.” We are not Home yet!
There’s a host who suffered for Christ waiting on you in Glory! Best of all, your Savior the Lord, Jesus Christ!!
You are not alone.
If I can be of help to you now by listening, praying, “putting my arm around you,” and being your friend, contact me. My email address is dalewaynecunningham@gmail.com.
For the pastor’s wife who needs encouragement, check out Denise’s blogposts: Drowning In the Hurts of Ministry and Part 2
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