I am just 3 months into my elected role as youth deaconess in the local church that I attend, and I’ve already received three requests from people who want to step down from serving. A few have simply gone MIA (missing in action). So I feel like a general who’s trying to rally his army to fight a battle even as he’s losing his soldiers.
I was discouraged until I studied Amos 7:10-17. The prophet was a shepherd from Tekoa (in Judea) who was called to prophesy in the northern kingdom of Israel. During his ministry, he was grossly misrepresented by Amaziah, who distorted his message and cast doubts on his motives (Amos 7:10). Given the circumstances, Amos could have become despondent. His ministry was unappreciated.
Then Amaziah ordered Amos to go home (Amos 7:12). Essentially, he was saying, “Amos, get out of this place where your message isn’t accepted. Go home to the place where things are familiar and secure!” But Amos stayed the course. God had given him a commission, and the prophet recognized that his ministry and his location were God’s choosing (Amos 7:15).
Bible teacher Alistair Begg says, “When one is effectively involved in serving God, there will be opposition, persecution, and trial. Consequently, there is no ideal place to serve God anywhere in the world except the place in which He has set you down.”
As I think about my role at church, I now realize that I was mistaken. I’m not the general; God is. And He’s working in His church so that “she will be holy and without fault” (Ephesians 5:27).
May we one day be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy 4:7). Keep fighting! Keep running! Keep believing!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 2:1-20
More:
Read Matthew 28:18-20 for God’s clear commission to all believers.
Next:
What could discourage you from fighting the good fight of the gospel? What will enable you to press on?
yemiks1 on June 10, 2013 at 3:08 am
Amen! I appreciate your role and pray God will strenghten the weak ones.
This is “flourish where you’re planted” simple.
Gene on June 10, 2013 at 7:23 am
Poh, so glad you are committed to ministering to the youth. Amos does have a lot to reach us about sticking with a message in spite of opposition. You’re, right, the general thing won’t work in your ministry. Get with the people who have resigned and listen to feedback and then adjust if needed. Be a coach and come along side others in leadership and the youth.
pohfangchia on June 10, 2013 at 8:26 pm
Thank you, Gene, for the wonderful advice. 🙂
I’ve come to learn that people leave for various reasons: discouragement, disagreement, distraction, and for some, it’s simply because God has called them to a new ministry.
roxanne robbins on June 10, 2013 at 7:38 am
Good reminder to remain tenacious for the Lord (in His strength) even when faced with challenges such as apathetic teammates.
lindafrances on June 10, 2013 at 9:10 am
Gene is right about listening to feedback. The first few years after becoming a Christian, I wanted to do God’s work, but was being attacked by satan who made me question my worth and ability to do God’s work. My thought was, “Who am I to think I can do this, I’m just barely a Christian and look at my past, I might fail again.” I was reading the bible, but did not have God’s word anchored in my heart yet. I did not know or really experience His promise’s outside of salvation. In time, walking with Christ, we know what “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” means, because He fulfills that promise through us, He proves Himself. We can then look back at what He has done and be encouraged to continue on.
pohfangchia on June 10, 2013 at 8:38 pm
This article was written many months ago. Today I stand to testify that God has raised up new people to take up the roles. I’m reminded of this verse:
“These were [Jesus’] instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Luke 10:2).