Tag: Ministry

From Caution to Comfort … and the Beauty in the Between

pjt.psalm71.14@gmail.com

So, the first thing you’re going to learn about me is that I am real. I’m not afraid to be transparent, to share my brokenness and my struggles. I used to worry that other “more holy” women would judge me if I were real. Then I got over it- delivered! Even so, I experienced this again recently and it really messed with my self esteem and even my “God esteem-” you know, my concept of who I am in Christ- for a short time. Then I was reminded (and when I say reminded I mean, the Lord lovingly smacked me upside the head) of these verses:

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise to the God of All Comfort. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:2-4 NIV

The word comfort appears in those three verses 5 times! Do you think that’s a hint about the prominent place it holds in our Father’s heart? I can only believe that as Christians, comforting others is way more important, and more noble and courageous, than trying to fool the world into thinking that we have it all together- that we never struggle with sin or pain. Because guess what? We’re not fooling anyone!

If we all walk around acting like we’re super-spiritual, struggle-free wonder women- well first of all we’re lying because none of us are Jesus- but also we are missing out on the most amazing ministry opportunities! I don’t want anything to keep me from the blessings that come when I authentically extend grace to others. I especially don’t want fear of judgment to keep me from the purpose God has ordained for my pain and my brokenness. Can’t you just imagine the enemy grinning and rubbing his hands together every time fear keeps us from sharing our struggles and the comfort we’ve received from Jesus?

Read the first line of that passage- GRACE and PEACE to you! The judgment we fear, whether real or perceived, has no power over us! Anyone who is not extending grace and peace to you is not a messenger from “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!” Now I’m not dismissing the merit of a well-timed word of Christian exhortation. I’m very thankful for friends who have warranted a place in my life to speak the truth in love. Because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). LOVE (grace and peace) is the antidote to fear.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the awesome ministry to which we are called in this passage. The Message paraphrase says it like this:

“He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.”

I met a woman recently who had an amazing testimony. God had been her refuge through unspeakable tragedy, and yet, even as she opened up just a bit, she told me she was afraid to share her story with others. “Why?” I asked incredulously, thinking of all the women who needed to hear just such an encouraging word. She gave a few reasons: she was afraid she would get too emotional; she was afraid people wouldn’t be able to grasp the full depth of her pain; she was afraid people would pity her, or perhaps tell her she should have been a stronger Christian through it all. As she spoke, my heart went out to her. I imagined her in this prison of “what-ifs,” all of which were keeping her from God-ordained ministry and from fully experiencing the redemption of her experiences as she used them to bring comfort to others.

What about you, my friend? The beauty in the between here is actually more of a lasting beauty that continues to grow as we mature in the Lord, as time mellows our memories and as we comfort and come alongside many others. Don’t let anyone or anything steal the purpose from your pain, the blessing of your brokenness or the testimony in your troubles. Revelations 12:11 tells us that we triumph over the enemy by the blood of Jesus and the words of our testimony. What do you need to overcome today? And then, how can you help others to overcome and find the comfort you have found?

Lord Jesus, you know our deepest pain, the inner brokenness that no one sees. Give us the courage to be real- to walk in transparency and humility instead of pretense and pride. Help us to trust You with our hurts, our fears, our life experiences that have been less than victorious; for it’s only when we trust You with the opportunity and the outcome that we take ourselves out of the way of Your purpose. May our pain never be wasted; empower us with boldness when it’s time to offer comfort to others. May we always be Your agents of grace and peace. Amen.

From Plan A to Plan F… and the Beauty in the Between

pjt.psalm71.14@gmail.com1 Comment

You know, at this point in my adult life I would have thought I’d have it all figured out; but friends, can I tell you the truth? I’m on a journey and I have no idea what my next steps will be or where I’ll end up! Which drives me crazy, because I’m a planner and a very goal-oriented person. I get great satisfaction from meeting deadlines and crossing things off my list. If you don’t believe me ask my husband, who alternately cringes or chuckles when I say, “OK- what’s the plan for…?”

This is not what I was expecting my life to look like at 44- believe me! God, in His sovereignty, has made it very apparent that in this season of my life, my plans are not His plans– and He has yet to reveal His plans. It turns out that my goals are not even on His to-do list for me- leaving me with no deadlines and nothing to check off! I feel like I’ve been wandering in the wilderness, waiting for what’s next, for more than a year now.

The other day I was complaining (possibly whining) to the Lord. “You called me to ministry and to a life-long commitment to missions, and here I sit… with no purpose and not knowing what’s next.” Man, did I feel convicted when I heard Him say, “I AM NEXT!”

I realized I was more upset about plans that went awry than I was about my whiny, ungracious attitude toward my Heavenly Father. I had to repent and ask myself, why was I striving for a plan and a purpose instead of seeking the Author and Perfecter of it all? Why was I chafing against unmet goals rather than lamenting over unmet moments with my Father, El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One?

And wandering in the wilderness? What if God’s purpose for my wandering achieves the same results as when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years? In order to move into The Promised land God’s chosen people needed two things: to know Him better and to get the Egypt (the past) out of their hearts and minds. Without the wilderness they would not have been familiar with the depth and width and breadth of God’s love and care and guidance and provision.

Yes, that’s where I am… Wandering around my own proverbial Mount Sinai getting to know my Savior in a new way and letting go of the past. Letting go has been very hard, because it was a great past! I had my dream job; our income allowed us to live comfortably; my house was the scene for many meaningful family moments, extra teenagers, lots of laughter and food and fellowship; my husband and I thrived in our church and had many wonderful ministry opportunities; we had friends and a church family who loved us and knew us well.

Why in the world would we leave all that, you ask? Because we knew that God wanted to do a new thing in our lives. What is that new thing, you ask? At this point I have no idea!

We moved from Wisconsin to South Florida to pursue an amazing ministry opportunity, and when we moved it appeared that all the doors were open for us. However, just a few months after we arrived in Florida, that opportunity crumbled due to circumstances beyond our control. Next, we tried being on the pastoral staff at a church in inner-city Miami (something else I would have considered my “dream job” when I was younger), but within six months it was obvious that wasn’t going to work out either.

So now we say that we’ve exhausted plans A-E and are on plan F right about now (talk about funny-not funny!). We’ve found jobs in the secular marketplace and are recovering from some pretty intense burn out. It’s taken us awhile to make good friends here and even longer to find the right church. Through it all though, our eyes have been on the Lord. More than once I’ve prayed the prayer of Jehoshaphat: “Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

I am definitely in the “between” and there is plenty of beauty here, my friends! My husband and I are closer than we’ve ever been; we’re cheering on our kids as they all successfully “adult” out of our nest; we’re about to become grandparents; we are finally growing deep friendships in this new place and in our new church.

The most beautiful thing is that I’m learning I don’t need to have a goal, a time-frame or a destination- I just need my Jesus. And now I know my purpose in this season: to pursue my Lord; to truly learn to trust Him and believe that His best is yet to come, rather than looking over my shoulder at Egypt. I can rest in Him, knowing that at the right time, He will lead me to my next Promised Land.

Read the entire story of Moses and the Israelites in Exodus and Numbers.

Read more about Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 20.