I was working out at the gym today. And after looking at the mirror, I was trying not to be discouraged due to my lack of visible results. I mean, this wasn't my first time at the gym. In fact, for those of you that don't know me, I have been very active in physical fitness. But we often get discouraged when we aren't able to see the results (at least the results we were hoping for). This is one of the most common reasons people quit working out all together. They put in their time and energy, bustin' their tail to get in shape only to not see any results and give up..... after one week!
To be completely honest, I have felt this way in the ministry, specifically youth ministry. I put my time and energy into the lives of young people, only to see them not showing up for services, or falling into the landmines that satan throws before them. But I need to constantly remind myself that it is a process. We hear the comparisons of building a house to building a healthy ministry all the time (i.e. the importance of building a solid foundation). But there is flaw in that comparison: the problem is when building a house, you are able to see the results as its being built. Ministry isn't always that way. But it is AMAZING when you do see it. For example, that middle school kid that you never thought would come around... you thought that he was never paying attention to the messages... thought that you would never tear down the wall he had thrown up. Only to see just weeks later declare Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, get Baptised and immediately make an impact in the youth ministry by leading by example!!
When we see that one life changed, it changes everything. I'm completely humbled that a God as AMAZING as He is would use an ordinary person like me. In my first four months as youth pastor, I have seen that God can use the ordinary to do the extraordinary. We should just continue to do THE POSSIBLE and leave THE IMPOSSIBLE to God.
To be completely honest, I have felt this way in the ministry, specifically youth ministry. I put my time and energy into the lives of young people, only to see them not showing up for services, or falling into the landmines that satan throws before them. But I need to constantly remind myself that it is a process. We hear the comparisons of building a house to building a healthy ministry all the time (i.e. the importance of building a solid foundation). But there is flaw in that comparison: the problem is when building a house, you are able to see the results as its being built. Ministry isn't always that way. But it is AMAZING when you do see it. For example, that middle school kid that you never thought would come around... you thought that he was never paying attention to the messages... thought that you would never tear down the wall he had thrown up. Only to see just weeks later declare Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, get Baptised and immediately make an impact in the youth ministry by leading by example!!
When we see that one life changed, it changes everything. I'm completely humbled that a God as AMAZING as He is would use an ordinary person like me. In my first four months as youth pastor, I have seen that God can use the ordinary to do the extraordinary. We should just continue to do THE POSSIBLE and leave THE IMPOSSIBLE to God.
