When we are involved in ministry, a lot of things can go right and wrong. It’s not all glorious wins and triumphs in our desire to serve Christ and lead others to Him.
We all experience our share of loss and disappointment along the way. Here are some of the losses we face in ministry:
Loss of friends who move away or decide to leave over various disagreements
Loss of friends and loved ones with the reality of death
Loss of health when sickness affects us and others near to us
Loss of a hope when our plans and efforts do not work out
Loss of income when things do not work out in our ministry position
Loss of joy in the face of being hurt, disappointed and betrayed
The losses we face can bring us down to the pit of discouragement and depression. We may question ourselves, others and even God. Is this really worth it? When we experience continual or great loss, we can feel like a failure.
How do we recover from our losses when they inevitably come our way? What can we do to change our mindset when things around us are not going our way? The standard answers of prayer, Bible reading and being with others to encourage us are all good.
Here are three truths about God we can acknowledge and give thanks for when it comes to our losses:
God’s presence in our losses
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7
God’s promise in our losses
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering, Isaiah 53:3-4
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
God’s proclamation in our losses
“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:7
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58
Is it worth it?
Jesus is worth it. Some of our most valuable lessons come through our most difficult losses. He uses our losses to show forth His power in and through us.
Some of the best gifts we receive from God come to us in the most unexpected ways.
Take heart and don’t give up
Never resign on Monday
Wait for the Lord and just maybe our next victory is nearer to us than we can imagine
We are very excited about our next retreat coming up in Ruidoso, New Mexico which is now fully booked. We have a couple of openings in Branson and one cabin available in Moro Bay, and we would love to have you come! Sign up here.
-Jim Daniel