Does that ever happen to you? Do you ever feel the way I am feeling tonight?
Tonight, I'm seeking encouragement from the Lord in His Word. If you're feeling the same as me - or if you ever have felt the same, ponder and rest in these words from our Heavenly Father:
"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace . . . '" - Isaiah 55:8-12a"'For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.'" - 2 Corinthians 10:3-4"[Paul] planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." - 1 Corinthians 3:6-9"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:9-10
Often times, I wish I could spark passion and love into the hearts of those around me. But then I am reminded of the complete miracle that salvation is - and the complete work that is done by the Holy Spirit. I am so grateful for the gifts He has given to me, the greatest work being His redemption. But how can we best teach that to those around us - those who need Him most but whose hearts are so far from Him?
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your encouragement, even while you yourself were discouraged! I appreciate this post a lot!
I appreciated your transparency about the challenge of ministry and the reward of relying on His promises.
ReplyDeleteSarah, thank you for your honesty and showing everyone who reads this that it is ok to say things are not well. As you know, I too experience many of the discouraging things that you have lately and I have just been thinking about Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 7:27, the Lord, right after commissioning him to give His message, says outright that the people he was preaching to would not listen. Jeremiah was to be faithful and obedient despite the fact that he knew nobody would listen. Imagine how discouraged he must have felt at times. Yes, let us care deeply for those we have been called to minister to, but let us also press on and be thankful that we have had even one listen to His message through us.
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