Have
you ever felt totally equipped and capable of ministering to others? I have.
Have
you ever felt like you have no business trying to minister to others? I have.
I
think both extremes are dangerous places to be. In the first, there is a
temptation to believe that I have something to offer apart from Christ, like, "I’m
doing this better than you, and you could learn a thing or two from this
awesome chic! Pride. Self-righteousness.
The
second is equally dangerous, because there is a temptation to become
preoccupied with myself and miss out on opportunities to be a minister of God’s
love and truth to the people around me. Self-preoccupation. Self-pity.
I
have been feeling more on the inadequate side lately. I feel as though I have been
failing in some areas of my life. I feel overwhelmed. I get down, even depressed
at times. And that’s when I hear Satan whispering to me, “Who
do you think you are trying to minister to others? You need someone to minister
to you! Get yourself together, then maybe you’ll have
something to offer.” And it actually makes sense to my
already doubting mind.
So
that’s where my story starts. I am a little
depressed. I am doubting that I should be trying to minister to anybody on this
campus. I’m scheduled to meet with a teenage
girl to mentor her after lunch. I’m supposed to
be leading this group of spiritual leaders on campus this evening. What should I
do? Cancel? Find someone to take my place?
I
just show up. My broken, doubting self. The student begins to share about some
of her struggles. I can relate! I share some of my similar struggles. She
appreciates that I understand her and feels free to share more. As she speaks
about her doubts, God’s truth rises up within me to combat
the lies Satan is trying to get her to believe. As I confidently and
passionately speak truth into her life, I hear a still small voice in my heart
questioning, “And does any of this truth apply to your
life right now?”
Ministry
is happening. God is ministering to my broken, doubting soul even as He uses me
to minister to this precious student’s broken,
doubting soul.
Ministry
IS NOT having it all together. Having all the answers. Being perfect.
Ministry
IS sharing our lives with each other. Being real. Being vulnerable. Sharing
struggles. Listening. Exposing lies. Speaking truth. Lifting each other before
the throne of God in prayer. Walking through the struggles of life
together.
And
you can guess how my evening meeting went with the spiritual leaders on
campus. I showed up. Frazzled. Uncertain. We used our time to look at God’s
Word together, to look and listen for ways He wants us to serve the student
body this year. We shared with each other practical ways we try to worship God in every aspect of our lives. We listened. We shared. We prayed. I was
ministered to. They were ministered to.
Ministry
IS NOT having it all together. Having all the answers. Being perfect.
Ministry
IS sharing our lives with each other. Being real. Being vulnerable. Sharing
struggles. Listening. Exposing lies. Speaking truth. Lifting each other before
the throne of God in prayer. Walking through the struggles of life
together.
God
uses broken, struggling, imperfect people to spread His love. Phew. That’s
a relief. I guess I don’t have to leave the mission field
after all! J
“Because we
loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of
God but our lives as well.” -1
Thessalonians 2:8
“Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are
doing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11
