Discouragement

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One of my daily prayer requests is for help in praying against discouragement.  I suspect I am not alone in this.  When you work in church ministry, that request takes on a particular urgency, because if discouragement wins the day, it might be time to go into a new line of work.

I use the term "work" loosely when talking about church ministry, however, because, as some of you no doubt know, it really is vocational, which is an entirely different beast.

One might be tempted to think that when you work in a church, everyone floats as if walking on a heavenly cloud.  Kindness overwhelms every situation and words flow from divine inspiration.  Oh, if that were only true!  In fact, unfortunately, it has been my experience that vocational work in a church can sometimes be more challenging than you would experience in the secular world! 

What is not to be missed, however, is that such purposeful work--while at times challenging--is most rewarding.  To be able to walk with people on their spiritual journey, watching them learn and accept all that God is offering, is beyond words.  Lives are transformed in Jesus.

What is helpful in keeping one's perspective when faced with any kind of challenge, is to sit before a crucifix (it doesn't matter if it is life-size or can be held in your hand.)  Be careful not to stop at the suffering, agonizing image of Jesus' death.  Ask for help to see beyond the cross and anticipate what comes next.

For what comes next is the resurrection, when Jesus rose from the dead to show us the way to eternal life.  Some may not believe there is life after death.  Some may believe our earthly, human walk is all there is.  Perhaps that is your belief.  But the reality is, there is life after death and to live it with our Father in heaven one day, it would benefit us to learn more about it now, from a bonafide spiritual leader, and get after it.

Like the saying goes, I'd rather believe in heaven and be disappointed if it does not exist, than to believe it doesn't exist and find out too late that it does!!!!

All kidding aside, if the only thing you see when you look at a crucifix is discouragement, please keep praying, because the cross is not the end of the story.

I hope you are having a blessed Lent.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com






 

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