A Challenging Work?

Sometimes I think I have been blessed more than any preacher alive. I positively love what I do and have loved every congregation I have been blessed by God to work with. In one work a brother believed that the preacher should be paid one dollar less than the lowest-paid man in the church, at another, a brother offered the elders $500 a week in contributions if they would fire me, at another a guy sent a letter to every member in the church asking them to contact the elders and ask them to fire me, at another a deacon’s wife told me she hated me.

I certainly don’t tell you those stories for you to feel sorry for me. The trust is there’s not a congregation that I regret having gone to or that I have felt more blessed than I have blessed. And, I love all of those folks referenced above -some are now dear friends. I imagine for some of you it’s been a hard day, maybe you’ve had a string of hard Sundays. I don’t minimize that. I pray the ones ahead will be more encouraging.

My point is, every work has challenges. But everyone has opportunities too. And sometimes the challenges are the opportunities. So, you are at a “bad” work. Are you certain? 

Is it possible that God has you there to make an impact where no one else could?

Is it possible the Lord is refining you for some future work where you will need to be tough?

Is it possible there’s something in you that needs to change and mature for you to become more effective? 

Please, don’t think that just because a work is hard, it’s not for you. Be a Caleb, want the hard work. If you got in a cushy easy to work place you may never even know if you made an impact, but in the hard work, you might be able to look back and see some impact you made. 

Listen, if we do this work well, it will at times be hard, challenging. If you make an impact satan will try to tear it apart. 

So, you are in a challenging work? Praise God! Don’t quit. You may be just where God wants you to be for the greatest ministry you will ever do.